Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has formally asked the second-largest political party in parliament to form a government in a bid to avoid a fifth general election in two years. Nikolay Denkov, the head of the reformist We Continue the Change party, said he would try to build a working coalition, although analysts weren't hopeful. Denkov, a 60-year-old chemistry professor and former education minister, will have a week to propose a cabinet. The cabinet will then need the backing of a majority of the 240 lawmakers in parliament. Denkov's party, which led a ruling four-party coalition that collapsed in June, has 53 parliamentarians. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, click here.
Bulgarian President Asks Reform Party To Form Government
On January 3, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (right) formally asked Nikolay Denkov (left) to form a government.