Balgarianovinite.com Politicians shared their views on the Cabinet line-up that caretaker prime minister–designate Andrey Gurov presented to President Iliana Iotova on Wednesday. Reactions ranged from claims of “nods” to political forces to criticism labelling the proposed Cabinet as “the result of bargaining and backroom deals” or an “Iotova-Soros-Petrohan Government.” Skepticism was also expressed about whether the Cabinet would ensure fair elections.
GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Kostadin Angelov said that his political entity views the proposed caretaker Cabinet as “the personal responsibility of President Iliana Iotova.“ “If President Iotova does not approve this Cabinet – and there has been such a precedent in the past, it could be returned. Apparently, she approves each of the ministers,” Angelov noted. He added that he believes that the idea behind the proposed caretaker Cabinet is to give certain newly formed political entities an edge in the upcoming election. “We see serious signals and nods in many directions. We will see whether they are understood,“ he added.
Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) co-Floor Leader Nikolay Denkov said that he does not see prominent political figures in the line-up, but rather an attempt to pick ministers with relevant expertise and experience for their assigned roles. He noted that, beyond ensuring fair elections, the Government faces urgent challenges in sectors such as education, agriculture, and regional development. In Denkov’s words, Gurov cannot afford to have inexperienced individuals enter the ministries for the short duration expected of this caretaker Cabinet.
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov described the composition of the proposed caretaker Cabinet as “weak,“ “extremely unprofessional,“ and “the result of bargaining and backroom deals.” He argued that the line-up appeared to test a future governing formula involving CC-DB, figures previously nominated by Rumen Radev in his caretaker cabinets, representatives linked to GERB and MPs from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF). The Vazrazhdane leader said he was particularly surprised by the nomination of Andrey Yankulov as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, pointing to his ties to the Anti-Corruption Fund, which, in Kostadinov’s words, “exerted pressure on the Ministry of Interior” to conceal information regarding the high-profile Petrohan case in which five men and a 15-year-old boy met a violent death in early February.
Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning co-Deputy Floor Leader Iskra Mihaylova-Koparova said that her party viewed the line-up as effectively a caretaker cabinet of President Iliana Iotova, George Soros, and the Petrohan case. She explained that this characterization stems from the fact that the Cabinet includes individuals directly linked to the Petrohan case, citing the latest materials released by the Interior Ministry. Mihaylova-Koparova further noted that the Cabinet appeared to be closely aligned with a particular political force, emphasizing that the full responsibility for the Cabinet’s work rested with President Iotova, as she had approved it. Mihaylova-Koparova added that from this point forward, MRF-New Beginning would use all tools of parliamentary democracy to monitor and control the work of the caretaker cabinet.
Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Krum Zarkov stressed that the President is no longer to be held responsible for the caretaker Cabinet following the 2023 constitutional amendments. The basic law revisions established that the National Assembly would operate continuously to oversee the work of the caretaker government, he said. “MPs who are directing their arrows at [President] Iliana Iotova could be more useful if they simply focused on doing their job,” the BSP leader added.
There Is Such a People (TISP) Deputy Floor Leader Stanislav Balabanov also insinuated a connection between the caretaker Cabinet and the Petrohan case, criticizing the nominations, particularly Andrey Yankulov. The TISP MP added that the upcoming snap parliamentary elections will be conducted as envisioned by CC leader Assen Vassilev since Emil Dechev, a former deputy minister in Kiril Petkov’s Cabinet, is now proposed as caretaker Interior Minister. Balabanov expressed doubt that Stoil Tzitzelkov, the proposed caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for Fair Elections, will be able to organize fair elections due to his “heavy” connection with CC-DB. The MP noted that Ahmed Dogan, the honorary chair of the Alliance of Rights and Freedoms – whom Balabanov described as “the father of the backroom politics model in Bulgaria“ – has two ministers in the proposed Cabinet – Labour Minister Hasan Ademov and Transport and Communications Minister Korman Ismailov.
Former president Rumen Radev also weighed in on the line-up, saying that the proposed Cabinet includes individuals with pronounced party and political affiliations. Politicians React to Proposed Caretaker Cabinet Line-up 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-18 19:28:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law