On Monday, the TISP (There is Such a People), the smallest grouping in Bulgaria’s parliament, told the president it was unable to form a government after it failed to garner the support necessary from other parties to cobble together an administration.

Its failure mirrors that of other, and bigger, parties, all of which were unable to bind together enough parties in the country's fractious political environment to form a working government.

Rumen Radev, the Bulgarian president, will now have to appoint a caretaker prime minister and set the date for another general election, possibly in the autumn.

The prospect of yet another ballot will prolong a lengthy period of political instability in Bulgaria that has seen numerous governments come and go, while undermining the faith of the public in state institutions and the democratic process.

"The election spiral continues to rage and not only causes irritation but also unlocks a number of destructive processes, blocks several institutions, and alienates citizens,” said Radev, reacting to TISP’s failure.

On August 6, the president will start discussions with Raya Nazaryan, the speaker of parliament, on who will be the next caretaker prime minister. Once the premier is appointed Radev then has to call a general election that must take place within two months.

"I appeal for a meaningful political debate and fair play in the weeks ahead. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat procedures that more and more people see as pointless," Radev warned.

The successive elections and the lack of a government strong enough to survive more than a few months in office has meant a number of pressing issues faced by Bulgaria have gone unaddressed.

In particular, corruption, which has plagued the Balkan country since the fall of communism in 1989, remains a scourge.

A Transparency International report last year ranked Bulgaria as one of Europe’s most corrupt countries, saying that “Bulgaria’s significant problems with rule of law and oligarchic influence remain”.