The chances of the center-right GERB party’s cabinet forming the basis of a new government were scuppered after 138 MPs voted against it, while 98 voted for it and two abstained.

This could herald an intense period of political instability as parties jostle to form a government and stave off the possibility of the country going to the polls in a snap election just months, or possibly weeks, after the last vote.

On June 9, Bulgarian citizens casted their votes in the sixth general election in three years. The election was precipitated by the collapse of the coalition between the GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) and the centrist, anti-corruption PP (We Continue the Change) parties in March this year.

GERB emerged victorious with 24.7% of the vote, but in need of a partner to form a coalition government.

Initial expectations saw GERB forming a coalition with the centrist MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) party, with a strong support base among Bulgaria’s ethnic minority groups and a third party. However, Wednesday’s parliamentary debate demonstrated that these parties have been growing apart and are beset with internal squabbles.

In the days leading up to the debate, tension was brewing between the MRF party leader, Delyan Peevski, an oligarch who was sanctioned by the United States in 2021 for alleged corruption, and its founder, Ahmed Dogan.

On Wednesday, MRF member Ramadan Atalai was kicked out of the party’s parliamentary group, after which he accused Peevski of leading the party as a “personal business,” while pointing out that Peevski and Dogan were “at a big rift,” with Peevski wanting to form a coalition with GERB and Dogan being against this move.

Bulgaria, a NATO member, requires a stable government to expedite EU funds for infrastructure and move towards adopting the euro and joining the Schengen Area.