Political consultations began on Monday in Bulgaria as President Rumen Radev is scheduled to meet with representatives of parliamentary groups in the 51st National Assembly to discuss forming a new government following the resignation of the Zhelyazkov cabinet. The resignation was unanimously accepted by parliament on Friday, after days of mass protests over the handling of the 2026 budget and wider political dissatisfaction.

The first meeting was with GERB, the largest parliamentary group, which sent only Deputy Chairwoman Denitsa Sacheva to the consultations. Radev noted the symbolic nature of her presence, remarking that history has shown “men often hide behind women in critical moments” and emphasizing the expectation for the party to act responsibly despite the current political turbulence.

In response, Sacheva highlighted the leadership of the general in politics she represents, stating that “wisdom is more important than the use of force” and describing her attendance as fulfilling GERB’s constitutional duty. She emphasized the coalition’s past efforts to stabilize the country, noting that in recent years, “there have been 11 caretaker cabinets, seven of which are yours.”

The deputy chairwoman stressed that GERB would not participate in forming a new cabinet within the current National Assembly, reiterating the party’s call for early elections. She stated that an extended budget would be submitted to ensure continuity in governance and the smooth implementation of Bulgaria’s planned transition to the euro from January 1. Sacheva said, “We will do everything necessary for it to be considered by the committees and in the plenary hall of the parliament,” signaling the party’s intent to support fiscal stability even as it withdraws from government formation. The euro transition is a major priority for GERB, with Bulgaria expected to fully adopt the euro on January 1st, 2026.

Radev, for his part, stressed that forming caretaker governments is a difficult task and expressed his reluctance to engage in extended budget debates or political campaigning during the consultations. Responding to questions about his own potential political project, he invoked the metaphor of Schrödinger’s cat, warning that discussions should focus on procedural matters rather than turning the meetings into a campaign. “Let’s discuss whether the cat is alive or dead, and ensure consultations do not become an election platform,” Radev said. Sacheva responded in kind, asserting that the search for stability in governance is not a debate over parliamentary democracy, but a practical challenge in light of the ongoing crisis.

The president also raised the question of whether a new parliamentary configuration was possible, or if early elections were inevitable. Sacheva insisted that the only realistic path is new elections and urged Radev to set a date promptly, even encouraging him to participate personally. She also underlined that GERB-SDF would ensure the budget extension and euro transition proceed without obstruction, but would not engage in forming another cabinet within the 51st National Assembly.