Denkov has seven days to decide whether to propose a government, although he has only a slim chance of getting the required support, analysts said.

The centre-right Gerb party, which won an Oct 2 snap election, failed to win support for a technocrat cabinet last month.

PP, whose ruling coalition collapsed in June to trigger the country’s fourth general polls in 18 months, has failed to secure enough support for a minority government with its ally Democratic Bulgaria, raising the prospect of another early vote in the spring.

Denkov, a former education minister, said he planned to invite political parties for a new round of talks over key priorities and put it to a vote in parliament this week to see if he stands the chance of leading a cabinet.

“I am taking this second mandate with the clear notion that it would be a very hard task; many even say it is impossible,” Denkov told President Rumen Radev when getting his mandate.

“Despite that, we are convinced that we should anything that is necessary to form a government,” he said.
Political analysts said the chances of a PP-led minority government were marginal. Key rival, the Gerb party, as well as the ethnic Turkish MRF party and pro-Russian Revival, have declined support.

Failure to form a regular government will weigh on Bulgaria’s plans to join the euro zone in 2024.

It will delay much needed reforms to combat high-level graft and could hamper the efficient tapping on billions of euros in EU recovery funds.

It will also leave the Balkan country without a comprehensive 2023 budget amid high inflation and a looming economic slowdown.

If PP fails, Radev will have to choose another political party and ask it to form a government. If that final attempt also fails, Radev will have to call a snap poll within two months.