Bulgaria is heading for its sixth consecutive snap parliamentary election in three years after its ideologically and structurally diverse parliament yet again failed to produce a functioning government following June’s snap parliamentary elections. After this latest failure to form a cabinet with a democratic mandate, President Rumen Radev appointed the second Caretaker Government of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev on 27th August, with the next parliamentary elections now scheduled for 27th October.

Glavchev’s return as Caretaker PM comes after President Radev rejected Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, a previous candidate for PM, over disagreements on her candidate for Interior Minister, Kalin Stoyanov. Largely mirroring his first cabinet, the new Glavchev Government includes three new additions: Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov, Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov and Transport and Communications Minister Krassimira Stoyanova.

Although functioning in a caretaker capacity, Bulgaria’s recent interim governments have started going beyond their caretaker role to address current issues and challenges, as well as focusing on strategic policy objectives. Accordingly, the Glavchev Cabinet is expected to advance the country’s EU integration, with a focus on securing full membership in the Schengen Zone and introducing the Euro as the country’s official currency. However, prospects for progress remain limited due to the political uncertainty of recent years.

With less than two months to go until the next election, Bulgaria is bracing itself for another hung parliament, with yet another snap election looming on the horizon if parties fail to agree on a governing majority. However, multiple other factors could shape the outcome of the October election, including growing voter fatigue, as well as disputes within centrist parliamentary parties.