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| - Bulgaria's president announced Wednesday he would dissolve parliament and call new elections, probably for July, after parties failed to form a government following polls last month. The April 4 general election produced a fragmented parliament. The outgoing centre-right GERB party of veteran premier Boyko Borisov came first but had just under 27 percent and failed to find partners to form a government. Both the anti-establishment party of showman-turned-politician Slavi Trifonov, who came a surprise second, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who took third place, were also unable to put together a coalition. "Next week I will dissolve parliament and appoint a caretaker cabinet," President Rumen Radev said. "In this situation, new elections are likely to be held on July 11". He warned that the fresh vote might produce a similarly fragmented legislature and lead to another political deadlock, urging parties to engage in dialogue to avoid prolonged political turmoil. Anti-corruption protests last summer failed to oust Borisov but seriously undermined the 61-year-old, who has served as premier almost uninterrupted for close to a decade. Demonstrators accused Borisov of favouritism, dependence on powerful oligarchs and weaponising prosecutors against political opponents. But without a clear alternative, analysts were unanimous that the poorest EU member state is headed for months of political uncertainty that could hamper the country's pandemic recovery. ds/jza/wdb
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