Bulgaria’s new president yesterday called an early national election for 26 March and appointed a former parliamentary speaker as caretaker prime minister until then. Ognyan Gerdzhikov, 70, currently a professor of law and head of an arbitration court, served as speaker of parliament in a centrist government from 2001 to 2005 and is now the Eastern European country’s interim prime minister. Kiril Ananiev, 61, currently a deputy finance minister in charge of budgets, will take over as finance minister, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Ananiev is seen as a safe pair of hands, having served as deputy finance minister in five different governments. The appointments show that President Rumen Radev, who took office this month after winning an election with the backing of the opposition Socialists, is seeking continuity and balance, analysts said.
Radev had to call an early election after Bulgaria’s centre-right government resigned late last year following the defeat of its candidate in the presidential election. Radev will dissolve the parliament at the end of the week. “The head of state sets 26 March as the date for the general election. With another decree, the president appoints Ognyan Gerdzhikov as interim prime minister,” the president’s office said in a statement.
Russia-friendly Radev is also expected to appoint diplomat Radi Naidenov, currently Bulgaria’s ambassador to Germany, as interim foreign minister as he seeks to reaffirm Sofia’s commitment to its allies in the European Union and NATO.
Last week, Radev said that Donald Trump offers “hope” for an improvement in relations between Russia and the West. He also called for EU sanctions on Russia to be lifted and said that Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, is “de facto Russian”, during his election campaign.
Full Article: Bulgaria set for snap election as president appoints interim PM – EurActiv.com.