After the Bulgarian Socialist Party handed back the exploratory mandate it was given by incumbent President Rosen Plevneliev for the formation of a government under this parliament, the Bulgarian head of state declared he would be offering a mandate to the Reformist Bloc on 12 December. 

The reformists stated that as soon as they had been offered it, they would seek the support of GERB party and if it was refused, they too would return the mandate. If the third attempt at forming a cabinet under this parliament falls through, President Plevneliev will be able to appoint a caretaker cabinet. Statements made by Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova make it clear that President-elect Rumen Radev has refused to take part in the formation of a caretaker cabinet, appointed by Plevneliev. After the presidential runoff, the two presidents held a meeting after which Radev declared he had received Plevneliev’s assurances that they would appoint a caretaker government together.