Rosen Zhelyazkov Sworn In as Prime Minister of New Coalition Government

In a breakthrough ending Bulgaria's protracted political deadlock, Rosen Zhelyazkov, a seasoned GERB politician and former parliamentary speaker, was sworn in as Prime Minister on January 16, 2025, heading a new minority coalition government approved by the National Assembly with 125 votes in favor and 114 against. Nominated by the center-right GERB-SDS—the largest party after October 2024's snap elections—this cabinet unites unlikely allies: the Bulgarian Socialist Party-United Left (BSP-OL), populist There Is Such a People (ITN), and tacit support from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), bridging ideological divides to secure a fragile majority. The swearing-in ceremony in Sofia marked the culmination of intense negotiations post the seventh election in four years, replacing caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev. Zhelyazkov, a lawyer with prior roles in transport and e-government, pledged priorities including eurozone accession (delayed but targeted soon), rule of law reforms, and economic stability amid inflation woes. Proponents, including EU leaders like Ursula von der Leyen, hail it as stabilizing Bulgaria's NATO and EU commitments. Critics decry the "grand coalition" as entrenching old power structures, risking paralysis on anti-corruption drives. As Zhelyazkov's team assumes office, this uneasy alliance offers respite from instability but tests endurance in a polarized landscape craving genuine change.