site.btaUPDATED Head of State: Choosing Caretaker Ministers Is No Easy Task in Current Situation

"In this situation, choosing caretaker ministers is no easy task," Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova said here on Wednesday after caretaker prime minister designate Andrey Gurov presented the lineup of his proposed cabinet.

The head of State singled out the preparation of fair elections as the most important task of the new interim government.

"The responsibility of the interior minister nominee is very heavy because he must wage a bold battle with the election abuses both on polling day and before that," Iotova pointed out.

"Together with the Central Election Commission, conditions must be created that the arrangements for the elections would not overshadow and jam the political parties' election campaign. We Bulgarian citizens want to know their ideas and proposals so as to make our informed choice," the President said.

"Bulgarian citizens have very great expectations. You won't have a honey moon of 100 days, not even 100 minutes, if you ask me," Iotova added.

"We expect from you to continue work on the Petrohan case in fair, decent and professional interaction with the rest of the Bulgarian institutions, without political bias," the President said further.

"This is a crucial stake, greater than a caretaker cabinet, elections or majorities, because it's about Bulgaria. It depends on your actions whether we will take steps, sufficiently categorical, clear and serious, so as to restore Bulgarians' trust in the entire system of security in this country," Iotova added.

She was referring to a high-profile criminal case in which five men and a 15-year-old boy met a violent death between February 1 and 8. Their bodies were found in two remote mountain locations in Northwestern Bulgaria: a lodge near the Petrohan Pass and a camper van near Okolchitsa Peak. Forensic experts established that all six died of gunshot wounds. Law enforcement officials said the principal leads they followed, based on ballistics findings, are homicide succeeded by suicide or suicide only. The deceased were associated with a non-governmental conservation group called National Protected Areas Control Agency (NPACA).

"Driven by ambition and professionalism, the ministers are expected to tackle the risks facing this country regarding the energy system, electricity and fuel supplies and price, to cope with the rising prices of goods, to safeguard Bulgarians' income and the measures for the most vulnerable people," the head of State noted.

Another expectation that Iotova shared is continued work on securing the disbursement of the EU funds that Bulgaria needs.

She recalled that the country does not have a 2026 state budget and that last year's budget has been extended. "There was a proposal for a second extension, I hope you'll manage," the President said.

Regarding the foreign policy priorities, Iotova hopes that the proposed cabinet members will "break with the yes policy" and "we will have firm national positions to stand up for with the European partners." Iotova insisted that "Bulgaria should have a sufficiently strong say".