Sergei Stanishev

Bulgaria's election-winning Socialist Party completed a deal with the National Movement Simeon II and a mainly ethnic Turkish party to form a coalition government.

Socialist leader and premier-designate Sergei Stanishev (pictured) presented the cabinet nominations for parliamentary approval Aug. 16. Key posts in the future center-left government were scheduled to be taken by western-oriented reformists.

"Today we have sent a good sign to Europe. It is important for Brussels to see that there is continuity in Bulgaria," outgoing Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg said after the signing ceremony for the new coalition.

The June 25 general election had produced a fragmented legislature of seven parties, none of which had an outright majority.

The new government will have the strong parliamentary support needed to push through the laws required by the EU before the end of September, when the European Commission is scheduled to issue a report on Bulgaria's readiness for membership. EU warnings had stated that membership could be delayed by a year.

The Japan Times Weekly: Aug. 20, 2005
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