Bulgaria's Socialists say they won't back another Petkov-led government

Bulgaria's Socialists, allies in the outgoing coalition government of Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, said on Wednesday they would not back a new Petkov-led cabinet, angry at his decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats. The Socialists' position is likely to bring the European Union and NATO member state closer to fresh elections in the autumn, the fourth since April 2021.

The Russia-friendly Socialists called the expulsion of the diplomats over suspected espionage unacceptable. "We are putting on hold any talks with the PP party for forming a new government," Socialist leader and outgoing deputy premier Kornelia Ninova said.

"The decision to expel 70 Russian diplomats is unprecedented... For us it is completely unacceptable," she said. Ninova said Petkov has made the decision to expel the Russians without government approval and that her party could return to the negotiating table for a new coalition government with PP if Petkov is not nominated as prime minister.

President Rumen Radev declined to comment on the expulsions, saying he lacked detailed information, but expressed hope that Petkov had considered the consequences of his decision. Petkov's PP party is trying to muster a majority for a new government after his cabinet was ousted in a no-confidence motion last week, but analysts were sceptical he could succeed, even before the Socialists' decision.

Petkov has taken an unusually strong stance against Russia for a country which has cultural, religious and historical ties with Russia and long been a draw for Russian tourists. Neither Petkov nor his party were immediately available for comment.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)