ATHENS

Bulgaria's political crisis continued on Wednesday when Prime Minister-designate Rosen Zhelyazkov, appointed by the president after his centrist GERB party won a majority in the National Assembly, failed to receive a vote of confidence from parliament, local media reported.

The majority of lawmakers rejected Zhelyazkov, who was appointed by President Rumen Radev on Monday to lead the house, adding to the country's political instability since the June 8 general elections.

According to the state-run BTA news agency, 138 lawmakers voted against Zhelyazkov, while 98 supported him and two abstained.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was the only parliamentary force to vote for Zhelyazkov in addition to GERB. However, he only received 21 votes from MRF lawmakers, 14 of whom voted against him and one abstained.

Commenting on the latest development, President Radev said personal attacks took precedence over political theses during the parliamentary debate on GERB's proposed cabinet.

“The political crisis continues, and its solution requires not only putting aside personal and partisan interests but also demands adequacy,” he stressed.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev also said, "I have seen it before, nothing new has happened," pointing out that the constitution provides for two more government-forming mandates.

Meanwhile, the leader of the MRF's parliamentary group, Rosen Zhelyazkov, has warned that the country is heading to a new snap election because the current composition of parliament and political situation will not allow for the formation of a government.

“Russia won today. Bulgaria missed a unique opportunity to have a Euro-Atlantic government,” he claimed.