Caretaker cabinet in Sofia vows crackdown on vote-buying and judicial abuse

Bulgaria will be governed for the next months by a caretaker government with a clearly reform-oriented profile and a mandate to organise fair elections in a country where a vast majority of citizens distrust public institutions.

Economist and former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank Andrey Gyurov, nominated as prime minister, on Wednesday presented his proposed ministers, many of whom come from the civil society and have an explicit anti-corruption background.

Gyurov’s caretaker administration differs markedly from previous interim cabinets. Its composition and distribution of portfolios are unusual, relying predominantly on experts with reputations for integrity, political neutrality and a clearly pro-European civic stance.

“Public expectations are extremely high. You will not have a 100-day grace period, it seems to me you may not even have 100 minutes. The most important task is to prepare elections that are fair and in accordance with the law. The responsibility of your nominee for interior minister is enormous because he must wage a courageous battle against electoral abuse,” President Iliana Iotova told Gyurov.

Iliana Iotova – from journalist to President

At the same time, the government will also face a sensitive investigation into the deaths of six “rangers” found in the mountains near Sofia, a case that has fuelled conspiracy theories and highlighted the depth of public mistrust toward official authorities.

Six deaths by gunshots, many questions: how official loose talk fuelled conspiracy theories in Bulgaria

Gyurov told reporters he had personally decided on the cabinet’s composition despite speculation about influence from his former partners in the opposition liberal coalition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria.

“I conducted the talks independently. I bear full responsibility for all the ministers in this cabinet,” Gyurov said, adding that no political pressure had been exerted on him.

Judge to fight for fair elections

Particular attention focused on the future interior minister, who is expected to guarantee the integrity of the forthcoming snap parliamentary elections.

“As you know, Emil Dechev is a criminal judge. What we have seen in previous elections, including the Constitutional Court’s ruling, is that somewhere the chain breaks between the Interior Ministry identifying violations during the electoral process and courts later issuing convictions,” the incoming caretaker prime minister said.

The hope, he added, is that in the coming months those attempting to manipulate elections will face sentences.

“It was essential that the interior minister be a person not linked to any political party and who cannot be accused of conducting a political campaign or supporting a particular project through his actions,” he said.

Former prosecutor for deputy PM

A key figure in the cabinet is Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov, a former prosecutor and current lawyer and expert at the Anti-Corruption Fund investigative foundation, akin to Alexei Navalny’s Russian organisation.

The Bulgarian Anti-Corruption Fund has exposed some of the largest political and judicial dependencies in recent years. Yankulov left the judiciary in 2019 in protest at what he described as its capture by oligarchic interests.

Reform-minded criminal judge Emil Dechev will head the Interior Ministry. The government will also include a deputy prime minister specifically responsible for the integrity of the vote – civic activist Stoil Tsitselkov, known for campaigns promoting fair elections.

Bulgaria faces serious problems with controlled and vote-buying practices in poorer communities such as Roma. With low turnout, such votes can exceed 10% and significantly distort political representation in parliament.

Foreign minister will be Nadezhda Neynski (formerly Mihailova), who held the post more than two decades ago when Bulgaria began its path toward European integration. Neynski has seved as Bulgarian ambassador to Turkey.

Agriculture minister Ivan Hristanov gained a reputation two years ago as one of the leading figures fighting corruption at Bulgaria’s borders.

Julian Popov, set to become environment minister, is associated with the country’s democratic community and has previously served with the same portfolio in both caretaker and regular governments. Green policies, energy security and climate diplomacy form part of his international professional record.

Gyurov said the decision to appoint a dedicated deputy prime minister responsible for election integrity aims to ensure civic participation in state oversight.

Chief prosecutor dismissal

Another major objective of the caretaker government will be to initiate judicial reform and seek the removal of Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, whose mandate has expired but who refuses to step down.

“Andrey Yankulov led the ‘Eight Dwarfs’ investigation (into serious political and economic dependencies within the judiciary) and has both the moral and legal grounds to request the prosecutor general’s dismissal. We rely on him to carry out this task,” the prime minister said.

Snap parliamentary elections are scheduled for 19 April, with opinion polls currently placing the political formation linked to former president Rumen Radev as the frontrunner, attracting support of more than 33% of voters. Radev, frequently criticised by opponents for alleged pro-Russian positions in foreign policy debates, considers anti-corruption measures as a priority.

The composition of the caretaker cabinet appointed by Iotova, who is considered politically close to Radev, suggests that a reform-oriented and explicitly anti-corruption governing majority in Sofia could take shape after the vote.

Caption: The caretaker prime minister-designate Andrey Gyurov presents the composition of his government to President Iliana Iotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria.