Sofia, 15 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - A new government is on the horizon in Bulgaria following the seventh parliamentary election in three and a half years.

The pro-Western alliance Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria-Union of Democratic Forces (GERB-SDS) has announced a diverse three-party coalition two and a half months after its election victory, with President Rumen Radev nominating former parliamentary speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov as prime minister.

Zhelyazkov presented a minority government consisting of his centre-right GERB-SDS, the Socialists and the populist There Is Such A People (ITN). He stated that a coalition agreement has already been signed.

Parliament is set to vote on the new government on Thursday.

Former prime minister Boyko Borissov, who has held the role three times, is still the leader of the GERB faction in the GERB-SDS alliance but was rejected as a candidate to lead the government during coalition talks.

Zhelyazkov said support from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), a party representing ethnic Turks in Bulgaria, was also obtained to secure an effective majority in parliament.

With the backing of the DPS, the government bloc would achieve a majority of 126 out of a total of 240 members of parliament.

A total of eight political blocs are represented in the fragmented parliament.

The election on October 27 became necessary as no government could be formed following an earlier poll on June 9.