Rumen Radev, a pro-Russia former president who clinched victory in last month's Bulgarian general election, officially took office as the new prime minister.
The Associated Press and other outlets reported on the 9th (local time) that Bulgaria's parliament the previous day approved a single-party cabinet formed by Progressive Bulgaria (PB). In the vote, 124 lawmakers were in favor, 70 were against, and 36 abstained.
After taking the oath of office, Prime Minister Radev emphasized cracking down on corruption and reforming oligarchic politics, saying Bulgaria "will become a dignified and efficient state."
In the general election held on the 19th, PB, led by Prime Minister Radev, won with 44.6% of the vote. The center-right Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) garnered only 13.4%.
Prime Minister Radev is regarded as a representative pro-Russia politician who has taken a critical stance on the European Union's sanctions against Russia and its policy of supporting Ukraine. Some suggest he could clash with the EU, similar to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
There are also projections that Bulgaria's heavy economic dependence on the EU means this will not lead to moves such as scrapping the adoption of the euro or opposing policies to support Ukraine.
In late last year, anti-government protests centered on Generation Z spread, leading former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to resign, after which an interim government has been in place.
Political instability is also continuing. Bulgaria has failed to form a stable governing majority, resulting in repeated turmoil, including holding general elections eight times over the past five years.