Firmly Back on the EU Track: Bulgaria’s Odd Coalition Repels Russian Influence 

Bulgaria's coalition of ideological opponents has defied expectations

23 November 2023

Within five months of taking office, Bulgaria’s “grand coalition” of one-time sworn political enemies is making substantial progress in realigning the Balkan nation with the EU mainstream and limiting Russian influence.

When the current Bulgarian government was formed in June, the odds were high it would represent only a brief interruption in political instability that had plagued the nation after five consecutive inconclusive general elections and four interim governments over the space of two years.

It was, after all, formed by former arch-rivals –  liberal We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) and the centre-right GERB-SDS that had dominated the country’s political landscape under its parochial leader and one-time Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

 Common foreign policy goals prevail over mistrust  

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Maria Simeonova

Maria Simeonova is the programme coordinator for the Wider Europe programme and ECFR's Sofia office. She focuses on the Western Balkans and Turkey.

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