After two parliamentary elections in 2021, a coalition government with an unusual composition was formed and collapsed just six months later following a non-confidence vote. Snap elections in 2022 produced yet another fragmented and polarized parliament. Meanwhile, the political crisis turned the president into an unusually strong player who appointed caretaker governments.
Bulgaria emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with a high-growth rate, surpassing even the most optimistic forecasts. Despite challenging circumstances, overall macroeconomic stability has been successfully maintained. Furthermore, there was progress made in reforming social safety nets.
Joining the eurozone has been established as a long-term priority of Bulgaria. However, shifting Bulgarian governments could not present their EU partners with a consistent version of key strategic priorities and incumbent as well as new political parties have openly questioned Bulgaria’s commitment to EU policies and values. Additionally, many tasks were difficult to efficiently implement without a functioning legislature.
