The Bulgarian government No. 91 including GERB and the Reformist Bloc and backed based on policies by the Patriotic Front and by ABV (Alternative for a Bulgarian Revival) was elected on Friday morning. The four political groups have provided the necessary majority in parliament. GERB leader Boyko Borissov is the first politician in Bulgaria’s post-communist history to take office as prime minister for a second term in the wake of an unsuccessful first term. For the first time since the start of democratic changes in this country in 1989, the 43^rd National Assembly comprises eight political groups. Neither of them has won enough votes to form its own government. In this way the sovereign has forced the politicians to engage in negotiations, to state claims or make concessions if necessary, and in the meantime, the wide public was kept informed of results.

For the first time decision-making at the Council of Ministers will unite politicians who have until recently been opponents – from the left and right. „A bird should always have two wings – it cannot survive with either the left or right wing missing”: this is the metaphor that ABV leader Georgi Parvanov, who has served as president during two consecutive terms, used to explain the leftwing support for the government. The new party has traded its support for the cabinet: ABV’s Ivailo Kalfin has been appointed Deputy PM in charge of demographic and social policy and Social Minister too. Boyko Borissov has three other deputies. These include two GERB members and Reformist Bloc co-chairperson Meglena Kuneva.

The opposition in parliament has turned out fairly mixed and confused. The Bulgarian Socialist Party is clearly in opposition. The signature of the Patriotic Front in support of the government has rebuffed the official support of the ethnic Turkish DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) and has prompted claims for anti-European plotting. The nationalists from Ataka are ready for attacks against the new government. The parliamentary group of the Bulgarian Democratic Center is in a rather hesitant position.

The harrowing compromises needed to make the new government coupled with the knotty configuration in parliament will for sure put the will for reform to the acid test. The cabinet members from GERB have history as ministers and are more or less predictable. The Reformist Bloc members have been honoured to pull the burning chestnuts from the fire. They have been given the most burning portfolios: economy, education, health and justice. These portfolios have never been the source of praise for the past 25 years.

Parliamentary support for the government will be up to what is underway at the Reformist Bloc and the Patriotic Front. These are both new formations who have never worked together before; they lack clear decision-making mechanisms and clear standards for negotiations. This will sooner or later begin to slow down the legislative program of the ruling majority. Besides, the Patriotic Front is openly hostile to Ataka. In the meantime, the Reformist Bloc is likely to come under constant fire. The Bloc is responsible for ministries where major reforms are necessary while the possibility to carry them out will be under the control of GERB.

English Daniela Konstantinova