Denkov Government

Denkov Government

102nd Cabinet of Bulgaria
2023–2024
Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov
Date formed6 June 2023 (2023-06-06)
Date dissolved9 April 2024 (2024-04-09)
People and organisations
PresidentRumen Radev
Prime MinisterNikolai Denkov, PP
Deputy Prime MinisterMariya Gabriel, GERB
No. of ministers20
Ministers removed0
Total no. of members20
Member parties
Status in legislatureMajority coalition
132 / 240 (55%)
Opposition parties
Opposition leaders
History
Election2023
Legislature term49th National Assembly
PredecessorSecond Donev Government
SuccessorFirst Glavchev Government

The Denkov Government is the 102nd[1] cabinet of Bulgaria. It was approved by the parliament on 6 June 2023, and is a majority coalition of GERB and PP–DB.[2][3][4][5] Per the coalition agreement, it is set to be a rotation government, where PP–DB's Nikolai Denkov would start with the premiership, with GERB's Mariya Gabriel serving as deputy prime minister, and after nine months, the two would switch positions.[6][7] Per the agreement, Denkov and his cabinet resigned on 6 March 2024 in preparation for Gabriel to form her cabinet, although the Denkov government stayed on in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.[8]

On 20 March 2024, the planned government rotation and signing of a renewed government manifest for the next nine months had failed.[9][10][11] A call for further negotiations to attempt rescuing the failed rotation agreement,[12] was left unmet during March 20-21;[13][14] but a last final negotiation round began on March 22.[15] The two parties GERB and Movement for Rights and Freedoms concluded on March 24, that the latest negotiation round now also had failed, leaving the President of Bulgaria no other choice than for snap elections to be called.[16][17]

The Bulgarian constitution declares that after a first failed attempt of government formation, the President must then ask the second-largest party in parliament (PP–DB) to try and form a government; and if this second attempt also fails he shall then give a final third attempt to any remaining party of his choosing.[18] If all three stages of negotiations fail, it is likely that elections would be held on 9 June 2024, coinciding with the European Parliament election on the same day.[19]

The Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, announced after having concluded a further second and third failed attempt to form a government among the elected parties, that he would sign a decree on 9 April 2024 approving Dimitar Glavchev as a new caretaker prime minister, along with a decree approving his proposed caretaker government,[20] and at the same time he would sign a decree setting the date for new early elections on 9 June 2024.[21]

  1. ^ "The path to power: How we reached the Denkov-Gabriel government". nova.bg (in Bulgarian). 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria's National Assembly elects Denkov government". The Sofia Globe. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  3. ^ "The New Prime Minister of Bulgaria: Who is Nikolay Denkov?". Novinite. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  4. ^ "Bulgaria Finally has a Regular Government (CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS)". Novinite. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  5. ^ "Who's Who in Proposed Government Lineup". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  6. ^ "ГЕРБ и ПП-ДБ правят правителство, Денков и Габриел ще са премиери за по 9 месеца (видео)". Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  7. ^ "ГЕРБ и новата коалиция тръгват заедно към втория мандат със заявка за кабинет с ротационен премиер". Dnevnik (in Bulgarian). 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  8. ^ "Bulgaria's PM resigns, as agreed, amid some coalition confusion". Reuters. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ Denitsa Koseva (20 March 2024). "Bulgaria thrown into new political crisis, snap general election likely". BNE Intellinews. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Mariya Gabriel's Proposed Cabinet Sparks Controversy: WCC-DB Disagrees with Composition". Novinite. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  11. ^ Krassen Nikolov (20 March 2024). "Bulgarian cabinet rotation falls, snap election looms". Euractiv. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  12. ^ Desislava Toncheva (20 March 2024). "Outgoing PM Denkov: We Can Sit at the Negotiation Table and Finish Them in a Reasonable Way". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  13. ^ Yoanna Vodenova (21 March 2024). "Wrap-up: CC-DB Ask GERB to Offer Exit from Crisis "They Created", GERB Expects "Political Apology" from CC-DB". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  14. ^ Petya Petrova (22 March 2024). "Outgoing PM: "Mariya Gabriel Made Huge Political Mistake, We Should All Look for Way Out"". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  15. ^ Metodi Yordanov (22 March 2024). "UPDATED GERB-UDF's PM-designate: New Early Elections Must Be Prevented". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  16. ^ Lyubomir Gigov (24 March 2024). "Movement for Rights and Freedoms Will Decline Third Cabinet-Forming Mandate, Wants Early Elections Pronto". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  17. ^ Nikolay Zabov (24 March 2024). "UPDATED Gabriel Won't Run for PM, Clears Way for Early Elections". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  18. ^ "A Failed Government Mandate: What's Next". Bulgarian News Agency. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Bulgarian FM Gabriel abandons attempt to form cabinet as negotiations break down". Television Poland (TVP). 24 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  20. ^ "UPDATED: PM-Designate Proposes Caretaker Cabinet". Bulgarian News Agency. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  21. ^ Yoanna Vodenova (5 April 2024). "UPDATED: European and Snap Parliamentary Elections in Bulgaria to be Held Simultaneously on June 9". Bulgarian News Agency. Retrieved 5 April 2024.