Bulgaria’s Parliament voted 124-70 with 36 abstentions to elect Rumen Radev of Progressive Bulgaria as Prime Minister.
The 124 votes in favour came from Progressive Bulgaria. Voting against the Cabinet were 21 MPs of Movement for Rights and Freedoms, 21 MPs of Democratic Bulgaria, 16 MPs of Continue the Change, 12 MPs of Vazrazhdane. Thirty-six MPs of GERB-UDF abstained.
Speaking from Parliament’s rostrum earlier on Friday, Radev noted that, for the first time in years, a chair of parliament had been elected ”quickly and without the usual scandals.” ”Bulgarian citizens expect this constructive spirit to be fostered. They expect Parliament to pass laws and make decisions rather than generate scandals.
”The high voter turnout in the elections restored much-needed legitimacy to the most important political institution — the National Assembly — and paved the way for it to function efficiently and effectively,” he noted.
“We have no illusions about the crises and challenges facing the government that will soon seek your support — soaring prices, the budget, the lack of reforms, the severe global energy crisis, and escalating conflicts,” Radev said. In his words, success will depend on effective cooperation between the government and the National Assembly.
“Our majority gives us the ability to pass our own legislative proposals, but we will also take into account constructive suggestions from the opposition,” he said. “We will rely on your experience and judgment, as well as your criticism,” Radev added, addressing MPs.
Radev called for a joint effort to ensure that the quality of legislation takes priority over quantity and that Parliament’s agenda reflects the concerns of Bulgarian citizens.
He added that proposals addressing soaring prices, as well as amendments to the Judiciary System Act, would be tabled on Monday.
The new government consists of a prime minister, four deputy prime ministers, and 18 ministers. The new Cabinet has one fewer ministry than the previous government. The Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Innovation, and the Ministry of e-Government will be merged and reorganized into two ministries.
Parliament voted 122-70 with 36 abstentions to approve the composition of the Cabinet.
The members of the newly elected Council of Ministers were then sworn in before the 52nd National Assembly.
Following is the Radev Cabinet:
Prime Minister – Rumen Radev
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance – Galab Donev
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry – Alexander Pulev
Deputy Prime Minister – Ivo Hristov
Deputy Prime Minister – Atanas Pekanov
Minister of Interior – Ivan Demerdzhiev
Minister of Defence – Dimitar Stoyanov
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Velislava Petrova-Chamova
Minister of Justice – Nikolay Naydenov
Minister of Labour and Social Policy – Natalia Efremova
Minister of Education and Science – Georgi Valchev
Minister of Health – Katya Ivkova
Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation – Ivan Vasilev
Minister of Regional Development and Public Works – Ivan Shishkov
Minister of Energy – Iva Petrova
Minister of Transport and Communications – Georgi Peev
Minister of Agriculture and Food – Plamen Abrovski
Minister of Environment and Water – Rositsa Karamfilova-Blagova
Minister of Culture – Evtim Miloshev
Minister of Tourism – Ilin Dimitrov
Minister of Youth and Sports – Encho Keryazov
