Why has Bulgaria had so many elections since 2021?

Bulgaria held eight parliamentary elections between April 2021 and April 2026 because, for most of that time, no party or coalition could build a stable majority in the 240-seat National Assembly. When talks fail, the constitution requires a caretaker cabinet and a new vote, so the country went back to the polls again and again. The cycle paused in April 2026, when Rumen Radev’s Progressive Bulgaria won 131 seats, according to the Central Election Commission.

As of 26 October 2026. Varna Pulse explains; it does not take sides.

Why did the crisis start in 2021?

The crisis followed the summer 2020 protests against the government of Boyko Borissov (GERB) and chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev. In the April 2021 election GERB came first but lost its majority, and nobody could form a cabinet. New anti-establishment parties rose and fell, and coalition talks repeatedly broke down, so parliaments stayed split. The Council of Europe’s PACE observers describe eight elections with caretaker cabinets and fragile coalitions, and note that the parliament elected in October 2024 had a record nine groups. Al Jazeera points to “deep political and social divisions” and frustration with corruption.

Election	What followed
Apr 2021, Jul 2021	No government; caretaker cabinets
Nov 2021	Petkov coalition, ousted by no-confidence vote in June 2022
Oct 2022	No government
Apr 2023	Denkov cabinet with a rotation deal, resigned March 2024
Jun 2024, Oct 2024	Zhelyazkov coalition from January 2025
Apr 2026	Single-party majority, Radev government from 8 May 2026

How does government formation work?

The three-mandate rule. After consultations, the president gives the first mandate to the largest group, then to the second, then to a group of the president’s choosing, each with seven days to propose a cabinet (Presidency of Bulgaria). If all three fail, the president appoints a caretaker government and dissolves parliament, and elections follow within two months. Since the December 2023 constitutional amendments, the caretaker prime minister must be picked from a short list of officials, such as the Speaker or the governor or a deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank. How the two top offices share power is explained in president vs prime minister.

Why did the Zhelyazkov government resign in December 2025?

On 26 November 2025, the opposition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria brought several thousand people to central Sofia against Budget 2026, which raised social security contributions and doubled the dividend tax, Sofia Globe reported. On 1 December about 50,000 people rallied in Sofia, according to Euronews; a small group clashed with police and attacked party offices. The budget was withdrawn on 2 December. Protesters focused their anger on Borissov and DPS leader Delyan Peevski, who is under US and UK sanctions (see our Peevski explainer).

On 10 December tens of thousands protested again, RFE/RL reported; estimates of the crowd vary widely. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced the resignation on 11 December, minutes before a no-confidence vote, and parliament accepted it the next day by 227 votes to 0, OCCRP reported. After the mandates failed, President Iliana Yotova (Radev had resigned in January 2026 to enter party politics) named Andrey Gyurov caretaker PM on 12 February and set elections for 19 April.

Have there been protests against the Radev government?

Yes. On 20 October 2026 a large crowd gathered outside the Presidency to protest against the foreign policy of Radev and Yotova, Sofia Globe reported; Radev said the protesters wanted to “push us to war”. Background: Bulgaria and Russia in 2026.

Did the 2026 election end the instability?

Analysts differ. The April 2026 results gave one party a majority for the first time in the period. A July 2026 Alpha Research poll found 42% approval and 33% disapproval for the government and called the situation stable for now, Sofia Globe reported. The opposition reads the presidential first round as a warning to the government. The runoff is on 1 November 2026.

What it means for Varna

Varna joined the December 2025 protests, Balkan Insight reported. Each election means a Sunday vote at local polling stations, often with changed parking rules. Only Bulgarian citizens vote in national elections; see our presidential election guide.