It is expected that in the coming days, President Rumen Radev will hand over the first exploratory mandate for the formation of a government, as the head of state has already stated that this will happen after the New Year, after the completion of the consultations with the parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly, held after the resignation of the government with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
The first exploratory mandate under the Constitution must be granted to the largest parliamentary force, which in the current composition of the National Assembly is the GERB - SDS coalition.
According to the provisions of the Basic Law, after the Council of Ministers resigns, the president is obliged to start a new procedure for handing over exploratory mandates for the formation of a cabinet. The Constitution provides that the head of state, after consultations, shall entrust the formation of a government to a candidate for prime minister, nominated by the largest parliamentary group.
If this candidate does not propose the composition of the Council of Ministers within seven days, the president entrusts the realization of the mandate to a candidate for prime minister, nominated by the second largest parliamentary group.
In the event of a failed attempt and on the second mandate, within a new one-week period, the head of state transfers the responsibility to the next parliamentary group, which must nominate a candidate for prime minister.
If any of the three exploratory mandates is successfully fulfilled, the President submits to the National Assembly a proposal for the elected candidate for prime minister to be voted on, together with the composition of the government.
In the absence of an agreement for a regular cabinet, the head of state, after new consultations with the parliamentary groups and on the proposal of a candidate for caretaker prime minister, appoints a caretaker government and sets early parliamentary elections within two months.
The president's consultations with the parliamentary forces began on December 15. On the first day of the talks with the GERB – SDS and "We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC–DB) groups, the focus was on the 2026 Budget project, possible amendments to the Electoral Code and the topic of a possible political project of the president.
GERB – SDS called on the head of state to set a date for early elections and insisted that he participate in them with his own political project, arguing that, according to them, "Radev often created political projects". During the meeting, the chairman of DSB Atanas Atanasov asked the president to state clearly whether he will make his own political project and whether he intends to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
He also raised the question "who are we talking to at the moment – the president or the competitor", questioning the role of the head of state in the future pre-election campaign.
Rumen Radev, for his part, stressed that he personally does not speak about a political project, although "for years it has been constantly talked about and implied" about such, and called on the participants in the talks not to turn the consultations into a "pre-election campaign".
On the second day of the consultations, the head of state spoke with representatives of the parliamentary groups of "Vazrazhdane" and "DPS - Novo Nachalo". And then the main topics were the budget, electoral changes and the future of the current parliament.
The leader of "Vazrazhdane" and chairman of the parliamentary group Kostadin Kostadinov described the situation in the country as "quite complex" and stressed that for his formation it is "critical". "We think that there is no need to waste any more time – the sooner the new elections come, the better", Kostadinov said.
"Vazrazhdane" criticizes the so-called extension budget and insists on a new budget without debts and with reduced expenses, and does not accept the idea of a convenient candidate for caretaker prime minister from the "house book".
From the parliamentary group "DPS – Novo Nachalo", the deputy chairman Yordan Tsonev stated that the movement would support an extension budget if this is the will of the majority of political forces, although in principle they declare themselves in favor of a regular budget. According to him, however, the extension budget does not provide an opportunity for adequate protection of large social groups.
On the third day of the talks with the presidential institution, the accents were again placed on the budget for the next year and on possible changes in the electoral legislation. The head of state held meetings with representatives of the parliamentary groups "BSP – United Left" and "There is such a people" (ITN).
The chairman of the BSP and Deputy Prime Minister in resignation Atanas Zafirov said that "the immaturity of the political system and party egoism" have led to a loss of legitimacy of the government and expressed surprise at "the misunderstanding of the expectations of Bulgarian society". He stressed that in state terms, the BSP is satisfied with its participation in the government, but noted the high political price.
Before the president, representatives of "There is such a people" stated that they supported the introduction of the "old" draft budget for consideration in the plenary hall, in order to make it clear to all Bulgarian citizens which political forces are against it. "We supported the 'old' budget to be submitted for discussion in the plenary hall, so that it is clear to all Bulgarian citizens who are against it," said Toshko Yordanov.
On December 18, the consultations continued with the parliamentary groups "Alliance for Rights and Freedoms" (APS) and "Moral, Unity, Honor" (MECH). With them, the president discussed the possible date for the elections, the need for changes in the Electoral Code and the potential for a new governance configuration within the 51st National Assembly.
Rumen Radev raised the topic of the budget again, noting that for people outside the parliament, what exactly happened to the financial framework for the next year remains a "mystery".
The representative of MECH Radostin Vasilev pointed out that February is not a suitable month for holding an early vote and the head of state stated that he understands and supports the arguments presented. Vasilev commented that if the party receives the third mandate, it will "technically delay" it so that the elections can be held in a month with a lower probability of snowfall and easier logistics.
On the last day of the consultations, the president also met with the smallest parliamentary party – "Velichie". Its leader, Ivelin Mihaylov, described this National Assembly as "absolutely illegitimate from its start" because of allegations of manipulation of the last elections and "substitution of the people's vote".
Mihaylov stated that his formation insists that the early elections be held in February–March, that machine voting with the printing of a control receipt be introduced and that at least 13,000 members of the section election commissions be provided.