Sofia [Bulgaria], February 20: A pro-Western transitional government took office in Bulgaria on Thursday to prepare for new parliamentary elections on April 19.
Interim Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov, previously deputy governor of the National Bank, and his Cabinet members were sworn in by parliament after President Iliana Iotova signed the relevant decrees.
Gyurov said his government wants to organize fair elections, after previous votes were marred by electoral fraud, vote buying and controlled voting.
He also reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to NATO and the European Union, as well as its support for Ukraine.
The transitional Cabinet is to remain in power until a regular government is in place after the elections.
The early polls will be the eighth parliamentary elections since April 2021.
Mass protests against corruption led to the surprise resignation of Prime Minister Rossen Shalyaskov's pro-Western government on December 11.
Iotova, who tasked Gyurov with forming a government a week ago, emphasized that the transitional government's "most important task" is to prepare fair parliamentary elections.
Source: Qatar Tribune
