site.btaPresident Radev Expected to Hand First Exploratory Mandate to Form Government in Coming Days

President Rumen Radev is expected to hand the first exploratory mandate to form a government in the coming days.

The head of state announced his intention on December 19, 2025, at the conclusion of consultations with representatives of the parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly, held following the resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. The consultations began on December 15.

Under the Constitution, the first exploratory mandate is handed to the largest parliamentary force, GERB-UDF. 

When a government resigns in Bulgaria it does not stop functioning immediately. The Prime Minister submits the resignation of the Council of Ministers to the National Assembly, which adopts a formal resolution accepting it. However, the outgoing cabinet continues to perform its functions until a new regular cabinet is elected or a caretaker one appointed.

The Constitution does not set a time limit after the government's resignation within which the President of the Republic must begin consultations with the parliamentary groups and hand out cabinet forming mandates to their prime ministers-designate, starting with the largest group. If the first two attempts fail, a third mandate goes to a parliamentary group of the President’s choosing. Should all three mandates be unsuccessful, the head of State is obliged to appoint a caretaker cabinet and schedule early parliamentary elections within two months. The National Assembly continues to function until a new legislature is elected and sworn in.

The pool of potential caretaker prime ministers from which the President may choose is limited to the Chairperson of the National Assembly, the Governor or Deputy Governor of the Bulgarian National Bank, the President or a Vice-President of the National Audit Office, and the National Ombudsman or a Deputy Ombudsman.