site.btaUPDATED Caretaker Cabinet Must Ensure Fair Elections, Says MRF-New Beginning Deputy Floor Leader

MRF-New Beginning Deputy Floor Leader Iskra Mihaylova-Koparova said the primary task of the caretaker government which will be appointed is to guarantee fair and transparent elections that will restore the trust of the Bulgarian public in the system, political parties and institutions. Distrust in the electoral process amounts to a general distrust of the state, Mihaylova added.

She spoke at Wednesday's consultations with President Iliana Iotova regarding the procedure for appointing a caretaker prime minister. The consultations with parliamentary groups started on Tuesday with GERB-UDF and Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria.

Mihaylova said the person selected to serve as caretaker prime minister should be a proven professional with administrative experience who is familiar with the structures of the State, rather than someone seen as close to one political party or another. The caretaker prime minister, who will be named by the President and will also carry the head of State’s responsibility, will be accountable both for holding fair elections and for the normal functioning of the State, Mihaylova said. She told Iotova: “You have quite a broad choice under the current Constitution,” noting that several people have already confirmed their willingness.

Of the ten Iotova met with last week, five said they were ready to serve as caretaker prime minister: Bulgarian National Bank Deputy Governor Andrey Gurov, Bulgarian National Audit Office President Dimitar Glavchev and Vice Presidents Margarita Nikolova and Silvia Kadreva, and Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova.

The caretaker government is responsible for overseeing compliance with budget discipline, Mihaylova said, recalling that Parliament has not adopted a budget for 2026. “We are operating with a rollover budget that is not fully functional and does not follow definite policies; in our view, strict control over spending is important to avoid any suspicions of abuse.” According to her, this also means the caretaker government should refrain from launching large-scale public procurement procedures and contract awards. MRF–New Beginning would support a budget proposal, even if prepared by a caretaker government, if it is socially oriented and prioritizes people’s quality of life, the MP said.

According to Mihaylova, the caretaker cabinet must also take responsibility for issues that directly affect citizens’ lives and work on them. These include preventing potential price gouging and ensuring the normal functioning of pricing policy. In her words, this also involves support for Bulgarian agricultural producers, who ensure the country’s food supply chain.

The caretaker cabinet should make efforts to continue the State and municipal investment programme. Every project matters for Bulgarian citizens, Mihaylova said.

“We call on the caretaker government to treat Bulgarian voters with the trust and respect they deserve,” the MP emphasized. She noted that MRF–New Beginning has had bitter experience from past elections in which the electoral rights of Bulgarian citizens were violated. Technical issues led to the infringement of the rights of people with disabilities and residents of small settlements. “We believe and hope this will not be allowed to happen again in any way,” Mihaylova stressed, adding that this is why they trust President Iotova’s authority.

The constitutional amendments reinforce the responsibility of both the presidential institution and the National Assembly, Mihaylova said. MRF–New Beginning believes in dialogue and in a clear understanding of the responsibilities of all parties involved in the process.

Mihaylova also said that her parliamentary group sees Iotova as a partner, with whom dialogue is possible even on issues where they differ. The MP added that they appreciate Iotova’s efforts to normalize relations between the presidential institution and the National Assembly. “You can see us as a partner committed to oversight, ensuring the proper functioning of state institutions, and supporting the conduct of transparent and fair elections,” she told the President.