The announcement of a draft cabinet by Andrey Gyurov is a strong political move, showing a bold move, with a clear clash. Whether the cabinet aims to shift the conversation from abstract intentions to concrete management decisions, remains to be seen. The very fact that familiar names are being presented means an attempt to assume responsibility and demonstrate readiness to govern, and not just for parliamentary presence. In Bulgarian politics, such moves are usually a test - both for voters and potential partners.
The issue of the judiciary, and more specifically whether a possible Minister of Justice like Andrey Yankulov would take action to relieve Borislav Sarafov from his post as acting prosecutor general. This is not just a personnel case, but a symbolic clash for the direction of the prosecution. Such a decision would mean an open conflict with part of the status quo in the judicial system and would require stable parliamentary support, as well as careful following of the procedures, so that it does not turn into an institutional crisis. The question is not only "will he remove it", but "does he have the political and constitutional opportunity to do so". Without a clear majority and without reform of the accountability mechanism of the prosecutor general, such an intention risks remaining an unrealized request.
The other new line in the proposed structure is the position of deputy prime minister for fair elections, for which the name of Stoil Tsitselkov is mentioned. This is an interesting innovation in the governance architecture. In recent years, the topic of transparency of the electoral process, machine voting, control over bought votes and trust in institutions has become a central public problem. The creation of a special department would be a signal that the electoral process is not a technical issue, but a strategic priority for democracy. On the other hand, the question arises as to what real powers such a deputy prime minister would have. If the role is a coordination one – between the Ministry of Interior, the Central Election Commission and the Prosecutor’s Office – it may make sense. However, if it is mainly symbolic, there is a risk that it will be perceived as a political gesture without real content.
The cabinet presented by Gyurov seems to be an attempt to unite two lines – institutional reform and restoration of trust. In this context, names are important not only for their expertise, but also for their ability to generate public legitimacy. The Bulgarian political system currently suffers from a trust deficit, and each new project is evaluated through the prism of whether it is a carrier of change or a continuation of existing dependencies.
Ultimately, the success of such a cabinet would depend on three factors: first, will we see clear parliamentary support; second, a concrete and realistic plan for judicial reform; and third, real instruments to guarantee fair elections process. Without these elements, even the best structured governance scheme may remain a political message, not a workable alternative.
Here is the list of ministers:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Nadezhda Neynski
Ministry of Internal Affairs - Emil Dechev
Ministry of e-Government - Georgi Sharkov
Ministry of Energy - Traycho Traykov
Ministry of Health - Mihail Okoliyski
Ministry of Agriculture and Food - Ivan Hristanov
Ministry of Economy and Industry - Irina Shtonova
Ministry of Innovation and Growth - Irena Mladenova
Ministry of Culture - Naiden Todorov
Ministry of Youth and Sports - Dimitar Iliev
Ministry of Education and Science - Sergey Ignatov
Ministry of Environment and Water - Yulian Popov
Ministry of Defense - Atanas Zapryanov
Ministry of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister - Andrey Yankulov
Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works - Angelina Boneva
Ministry of Transport and Communications - Korman Ismailov
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy - Hasan Ademov
Ministry of Tourism - Irena Georgieva
Ministry of Finance - Georgi Klisurski
Deputy Prime Minister for European Funds - Maria Nedin
Deputy Prime Minister for Fair Elections - Stoil Tsitselkov