The Role of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in the Parliamentary Crises in 2021–2025

Abstract

From 2021 to 2025, Bulgaria experienced difficulties in forming stable coalitions and frequent dissolutions of parliament. The country operated under caretaker governments appointed by President Rumen Radev. During the analyzed period, institutional tensions between the president and parliament, and the president and government, conflicts between political parties and their leaders, as well as crises within the political parties themselves, were evident. The aim of this article was to answer the research question concerning the role played by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in creating, shaping, and resolving the parliamentary crises of that time. The research approach was a case study of Rumen Radev’s presidency. Systems analysis and decision-making methods were also employed. An institutional and legal analysis of the Bulgarian constitution was also conducted. The crises analysis was supplemented by a list of parliamentary elections held and their outcomes. President Radev played a significant role in shaping and resolving the crises. Based on the regulations at the time, he played a stabilizing and arbitrating role during this time, but on the other hand, he diminished the importance of the Bulgarian parliament and thus strengthened his own position as a politician. His actions, in addition to creating and influencing the course of the crises, also had a significant impact on their continuity.