Petkov Government
The Petkov Government was a coalition cabinet in Bulgaria led by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov of the We Continue the Change (PP) party, which held office from 13 December 2021 to 22 June 2022.[1][2] It emerged from the November 2021 parliamentary elections amid a protracted political crisis sparked by 2020 protests against corruption under prior administrations, forming an unprecedented four-party alliance comprising PP, Democratic Bulgaria (DB), There Is Such a People (ITN), and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).[3] The government's approval by parliament marked the first stable executive in over a year, with Petkov, a political novice and Harvard-educated entrepreneur, pledging to prioritize anti-corruption measures, judicial reforms, and enhanced European Union integration.[1][3] Key initiatives included efforts to reclaim phytosanitary controls at the Turkish border, uncovering links to organized crime and former ruling party figures, as well as halting payments to Russia's Gazprom amid the 2022 Ukraine invasion to reduce dependency on Russian energy.[3] The administration pursued a pro-Western orientation, proposing EU-wide funds for Ukrainian refugees and engaging in bilateral talks to ease Bulgaria's veto on North Macedonia's EU accession path, aiming for pragmatic dispute resolution over historical and identity issues.[3][2] These moves aligned with broader goals of countering foreign influence through corruption crackdowns, though they strained coalition unity, particularly with nationalist elements wary of concessions to Skopje.[3] The government's tenure ended abruptly when ITN withdrew support on 8 June 2022, citing Petkov's unilateral handling of the North Macedonia issue and energy policy decisions, depriving the cabinet of a parliamentary majority.[2][3] A subsequent no-confidence motion, tabled by opposition GERB and backed by ITN, passed with 123 votes in the 240-seat assembly, leading to Petkov's resignation and plunging Bulgaria back into caretaker rule and repeated elections.[2] Petkov attributed the collapse to entrenched economic interests and external pressures, including alleged mafia and Russian ties among opponents, highlighting persistent challenges in breaking cycles of oligarchic influence despite reformist intent.[3]Background and Formation
Electoral Context
The political instability in Bulgaria preceding the formation of the Petkov Government stemmed from widespread anti-corruption protests that began in July 2020 against the long-standing rule of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and allegations of systemic graft within institutions. These demonstrations, fueled by scandals such as the resignation of the chief prosecutor amid wiretap leaks implicating high-level officials, eroded public trust and culminated in Borisov's cabinet stepping down in March 2021.[4] This triggered the first of three parliamentary elections in 2021 on April 4, followed by a snap vote on July 11 after failed coalition attempts, yet neither produced a viable government, leading President Rumen Radev to dissolve the National Assembly on September 15 and call elections for November 14.[5] The November 14, 2021, election, held concurrently with the presidential runoff, featured proportional representation across 31 multi-member districts with a 4% national threshold for parties or coalitions, electing 240 members to the National Assembly. Voter turnout was low at 38.4%, reflecting voter fatigue from repeated polls.[5] The anti-establishment party We Continue the Change (PP), founded by Harvard-educated entrepreneur Kiril Petkov and finance expert Asen Vasilev in August 2021 as a centrist, pro-EU platform emphasizing rule-of-law reforms, emerged victorious with 25.7% of the vote and 67 seats, ahead of the center-right GERB-UDF bloc's 22.7% and 59 seats.[4] Other notable results included the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) with 34 seats, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 26, and There Is Such a People (ITN) with 25.[4] PP's success, building on protest momentum against entrenched elites, enabled exploratory talks that resulted in a four-party coalition agreement by late November, comprising PP, Democratic Bulgaria (16 seats), BSP, and ITN for a combined 134-seat majority. This unusual alliance of reformists, socialists, and populists prioritized anti-corruption measures, EU integration, and addressing the energy crisis, allowing Petkov's nomination as prime minister on December 13, 2021, and marking the first non-caretaker government since 2020.[5][4]Coalition Building
Following the snap parliamentary elections on November 14, 2021, in which We Continue the Change (PP) secured the largest share of votes at 25.67% and 67 seats in the 240-member National Assembly, party co-leaders Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev initiated coalition negotiations to form a government.[6] PP, an anti-corruption centrist formation founded earlier that year, pursued talks with ideologically diverse partners to achieve a majority, livestreaming sessions for transparency amid public demands for accountability after prior failed mandates.[7] The negotiations centered on forging an unprecedented four-party coalition comprising PP, the centre-right Democratic Bulgaria (DB) alliance, the populist anti-establishment There Is Such a People (ITN) led by Hristo Ivanov and Slavi Trifonov, and the leftist Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).[8] [6] This grouping spanned from liberals to socialists and populists, united primarily by opposition to the long-dominant Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and its leader Boyko Borisov, rather than shared ideology, with a collective 134 seats ensuring a slim majority.[9] Key sticking points included cabinet posts, policy priorities like a 30% reduction in state administration and budget revisions, and a moderated stance on Bulgaria's veto of North Macedonia's EU accession to safeguard Bulgarian minority interests.[6] By December 6, 2021, Petkov announced that talks were 90% complete, with a coalition agreement finalized after midnight negotiations, focusing on "zero tolerance for corruption," enhanced social security, business incentives, and repatriation programs for Bulgarians abroad.[6] [8] President Rumen Radev formally mandated Petkov to form the government on December 11, 2021, after the deal's sealing.[10] The fragile alliance faced inherent tensions from its breadth, as evidenced by later withdrawals, but succeeded in presenting a unified platform against entrenched oligarchic influences.[9]Inauguration
The Petkov Government was inaugurated on December 13, 2021, following a vote in the 45th National Assembly where Kiril Petkov received 134 votes in favor and 104 against for his nomination as Prime Minister.[11][8] The approval marked the successful formation of Bulgaria's 96th cabinet after months of political deadlock following the April and July 2021 elections.[12] This four-party coalition included We Continue the Change, Democratic Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and There Is Such a People, securing a slim majority with 155 seats.[3] President Rumen Radev issued a decree appointing Petkov as Prime Minister earlier that day, after the coalition agreement was finalized on December 6, 2021.[6] The government's composition was presented to parliament on December 11, with ministers taking oaths before the assembly during the inauguration ceremony.[13] The vote passed despite opposition from the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and other groups, reflecting the fragile balance of the coalition.[8] This ended a period of caretaker governance under Stefan Yanev since May 2021.[12]Cabinet Composition
Initial Lineup
The Petkov Government, formed as a quadripartite coalition comprising We Continue the Change (PP), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Democratic Bulgaria (DB), and There Is Such a People (ITN), was sworn in on December 13, 2021, following approval by the 44th National Assembly.[14][13] The initial cabinet consisted of 21 members, including the prime minister and five deputy prime ministers—a higher number of deputies than in preceding governments—and incorporated newly established ministries for e-government, growth and innovation, reflecting priorities in digitalization and economic development.[14] PP secured 10 positions, emphasizing control over core economic and security roles, while the other parties divided the remaining portfolios proportionally to their electoral strengths.[14][15]| Position | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Kiril Petkov | PP |
| Deputy PM and Finance Minister | Asen Vassilev | PP |
| Deputy PM for Effective Governance | Kalina Konstantinova | PP |
| Deputy PM and Minister of Economy and Industry | Kornelia Ninova | BSP |
| Deputy PM and Minister of Regional Development and Public Works | Grozdan Karadjov | ITN |
| Deputy PM and Minister of Environment and Water | Borislav Sandov | DB |
| Minister of Interior | Boyko Rashkov | PP |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Teodora Genchovska | ITN |
| Minister of Defence | Stefan Yanev | PP |
| Minister of Justice | Nadezhda Yordanova | DB |
| Minister of Labour and Social Policy | Georgi Gyokov | BSP |
| Minister of Health | Asena Serbezova | PP |
| Minister of Energy | Alexander Nikolov | ITN |
| Minister of Agriculture | Ivan Ivanov | BSP |
| Minister of Transport and Communications | Nikolay Sabev | PP |
| Minister of Innovation and Growth | Daniel Lorer | PP |
| Minister of e-Government | Bozhidar Bozhanov | DB |
| Minister of Education and Science | Nikolay Denkov | PP |
| Minister of Tourism | Kiril Hristov Prodanov | BSP |
| Minister of Culture | Atanas Atanassov | PP |
| Minister of Youth and Sports | Radostin Vassilev | ITN |
Key Figures and Roles
The Petkov Government featured Kiril Petkov as Prime Minister, who took office on 13 December 2021 following parliamentary approval of the coalition cabinet. Petkov, an economist and entrepreneur educated at Harvard, co-founded the anti-corruption party We Continue the Change (PP) and had briefly served as caretaker Minister of Economy earlier in 2021.[8][13] As the head of government, Petkov focused on judicial reforms, EU fund recovery, and North Macedonia accession talks, though his administration collapsed in June 2022 after a no-confidence vote.[16] A pivotal role was held by Asen Vassilev, Petkov's co-leader in PP, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance from the cabinet's inception until its fall on 2 August 2022. Vassilev, also with a Harvard background, prioritized fiscal transparency, budget deficit reduction from 4.7% of GDP in 2021 to projected lower levels, and anti-corruption audits of state enterprises.[13][15] His tenure involved blocking oligarch-linked procurements and advancing recovery plans for €3.3 billion in EU funds frozen due to rule-of-law concerns.[17] Other deputy prime ministers included Kalina Konstantinova (PP), overseeing effective governance and public administration streamlining; Kornelia Ninova (BSP), handling economy with emphasis on industrial policy; Grozdan Karadjov (ITN), managing regional development; and Borislav Sandov (DB), focusing on environmental protection and green transition initiatives.[13] Key line ministers driving the government's reformist agenda were Boyko Rashkov (independent, aligned with PP) as Interior Minister, leading anti-organized crime operations that resulted in over 100 arrests in early 2022; Teodora Genchovska (ITN) as Foreign Minister, advancing EU-NATO alignment; and Nikolai Denkov (PP) as Education Minister, initiating curriculum modernization.[13][15]| Key Position | Figure | Party/Affiliation | Primary Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Kiril Petkov | PP | Overall leadership, anti-corruption, foreign policy |
| Deputy PM & Finance | Asen Vassilev | PP | Fiscal policy, EU funds recovery |
| Interior Minister | Boyko Rashkov | Independent/PP | Law enforcement, anti-mafia raids |
| Foreign Minister | Teodora Genchovska | ITN | Diplomacy, EU integration |
| Education Minister | Nikolai Denkov | PP | Educational reforms |
Policy Agenda
Anti-Corruption Initiatives
The Petkov government, inaugurated on December 13, 2021, positioned anti-corruption as a central pillar of its agenda, emerging from widespread protests against oligarchic influence and graft in prior administrations. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov publicly committed to eradicating corruption entirely within his four-year term, framing it as a prerequisite for Bulgaria's EU integration and economic revival, rather than mere incremental reduction.[19][20] This stance garnered international endorsement, including from the United States, which praised the government's emphasis on rule-of-law reforms.[21] Despite this resolve, implementation encountered institutional resistance, with the coalition achieving symbolic gestures over sweeping legislative overhauls amid political fragility.[22] Early actions included Petkov's March 2022 handover of a list naming 19 high-level figures implicated in corruption schemes to prosecutors, aiming to catalyze investigations into entrenched networks.[19] The government also demanded the resignation of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev, accusing him of obstructing probes by releasing suspects without charges, such as in the case of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. In February 2022, Borissov faced brief detention on corruption allegations tied to abuse of office, marking a high-profile enforcement move against a key rival from the prior GERB-led era, though charges were later dropped amid claims of political motivation.[19][23] These steps signaled intent to dismantle patronage systems but yielded limited prosecutions, highlighting prosecutorial autonomy as a barrier.[22] On May 18, 2022, the administration formalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Basel Institute on Governance to bolster anti-corruption capacity, focusing on training law enforcement and judicial personnel in asset tracing and recovery of illicit gains.[24] This pact targeted bottlenecks in the anti-corruption pipeline, such as weak evidence handling and international cooperation, with goals of repatriating embezzled funds for public benefit. Petkov further described corruption as a conduit for foreign interference, urging collaborative countermeasures in April 2022.[25][24] While these initiatives advanced technical expertise, the government's short tenure—ending in August 2022 due to a no-confidence vote—constrained broader reforms, leaving Bulgaria's Corruption Perceptions Index stagnant at 42/100 in 2022 per Transparency International metrics.[22]Economic and Fiscal Policies
The Petkov government prioritized fiscal expansion through the 2022 state budget, approving a draft on February 4, 2022, that allocated BGN 8.2 billion (approximately EUR 4.2 billion) for capital investments, primarily funded via deficit spending to support infrastructure and recovery efforts post-COVID-19.[26] The budget targeted a deficit of 4.1% of GDP, reflecting ambitions for economic stimulus while adhering to EU fiscal rules amid rising inflation pressures.[27] In June 2022, amid coalition tensions, the cabinet endorsed a budget revision after the withdrawal of junior partners' ministers, maintaining the 4.1% deficit ceiling and emphasizing that adjustments—such as reallocations for social spending—would avoid pro-inflationary effects by preserving overall fiscal restraint.[27] These disputes over spending priorities, including allocations for defense and energy subsidies, contributed to the government's loss of a no-confidence vote and collapse in June 2022.[28] A core fiscal initiative involved overhauling Bulgaria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to secure EU funding; on December 17, 2021, Prime Minister Petkov announced revisions to enhance alignment with green and digital transition goals, enabling access to EUR 6.3 billion in grants upon European Commission approval in May 2022.[29][30] The updated NRRP emphasized investments in high-capacity broadband coverage and emissions reductions, though subsequent critiques highlighted unfeasible energy sector reforms, such as rapid decarbonization targets for coal plants.[31] To address the 2022 energy crisis exacerbated by global price surges, the government introduced compensatory measures for businesses on July 28, 2022—its final cabinet meeting—including subsidies to offset electricity and gas costs, aimed at shielding industrial output without expanding the deficit beyond planned levels.[32] Overall, these policies sought to balance stimulus with eurozone accession criteria, targeting sub-3% deficits long-term, but political fragmentation limited sustained implementation and exposed vulnerabilities to external shocks like inflation, which reached double digits in Bulgaria during the government's tenure.[22]Foreign Affairs and Security
The Petkov government prioritized alignment with the European Union and NATO, marking a departure from previous administrations' superficial commitments to these alliances.[17] Prime Minister Kiril Petkov emphasized Bulgaria's role as a bulwark against Russian influence in the Balkans, advocating for stronger transatlantic ties and reforms to counter foreign interference.[33] In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the government endorsed all EU sanctions against Moscow and facilitated indirect military aid to Kyiv, including authorizing the sale of Bulgarian ammunition to third parties funded by the United States.[34] [35] On April 27, 2022, Gazprom halted natural gas supplies to Bulgaria after Sofia refused to pay in rubles, prompting accelerated diversification efforts despite initial requests for exemptions from energy sanctions due to dependency.[36] The administration also expelled 70 Russian diplomats on June 28, 2022, citing security concerns, and dismissed Defense Minister Stefan Yordanov in March 2022 for remarks perceived as sympathetic to Russia.[37] [38] Regionally, Petkov sought to normalize relations with North Macedonia to unblock its EU accession, which Bulgaria had vetoed over historical and linguistic disputes. On January 18, 2022, he visited Skopje and agreed with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski to address bilateral issues pragmatically, urging acceptance of a French-brokered compromise in June 2022 despite domestic opposition from President Rumen Radev and coalition partners.[39] [40] [41] However, the veto remained in place throughout the government's term, reflecting internal constraints rather than a policy reversal.[42] On security matters, the government initiated efforts to purge Russian-backed elements from intelligence services, proposing legal changes to appointment processes for agency heads.[43] Petkov reaffirmed NATO solidarity during a December 17, 2021, meeting with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, aligning Bulgarian positions with alliance goals on Ukraine and deterrence.[44] These actions underscored a commitment to enhancing national security amid heightened regional threats from Russian aggression.[33]Key Events and Domestic Governance
Early Legislative Actions
The Petkov government, inaugurated on December 13, 2021, directed the 47th National Assembly's initial efforts toward ensuring fiscal continuity, approving an extension of the 2021 Budget Act's provisions until March 31, 2022, in early January to avert administrative disruptions during budget preparations.[45] This measure addressed delays inherited from prior political crises, allowing time for drafting the 2022 fiscal framework amid economic pressures including inflation and energy costs. The cabinet submitted the 2022 Budget Bill on January 31, 2022, which advanced through parliamentary readings as a cornerstone of early governance. The National Assembly passed it at first reading on February 10, 2022, by a vote of 129-99, reflecting coalition discipline despite opposition from GERB and other parties critical of projected deficits exceeding 3% of GDP.[46] On February 23, 2022, the assembly adopted the bill's macrofiscal framework at second reading, with Prime Minister Petkov emphasizing in his address the need for prudent spending to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.[47] The full budget law was enacted later in March 2022, allocating funds for social measures and infrastructure while aiming to align with EU fiscal rules. Concurrently, the government advanced anti-corruption priorities by approving draft amendments to the Citizenship Act on January 12, 2022, to terminate the investor citizenship program, known as "golden passports," which had granted residency and passports for investments starting at €512,000 since 2013.[48] These changes, suspending new applications effective July 1, 2022, were debated in parliament amid concerns over national security risks and EU pressure, marking an early step to overhaul perceived graft-enabling mechanisms, though implementation faced administrative hurdles.Judicial and Institutional Reforms
The Petkov government, formed on December 13, 2021, prioritized judicial reforms to address systemic corruption and politicization in Bulgaria's prosecution and courts, targeting institutions perceived as captured by prior administrations under Boyko Borisov. Key efforts included proposing amendments to the Judicial System Act to curtail the unchecked powers of the Prosecutor General and to dissolve the Specialized Prosecution Office and Specialized Court, which were criticized for selective enforcement favoring political elites.[49][50] These measures aimed to enhance accountability and independence, with the Legal and Constitutional Commission advancing the amendments by March 2022.[49] A central focus was the removal of Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev, accused of shielding allies from corruption probes and undermining investigations into high-level graft. On February 8, 2022, Justice Minister Nadezhda Yordanova formally sought Geshev's dismissal, citing his failure to act on evidence of misconduct.[51] The government's collaboration with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) intensified scrutiny, culminating in over 120 cases of EU funds mismanagement referred for investigation in March 2022, and the arrest of Borisov on March 17, 2022, for alleged bribery linked to gambling magnate Vasil Bozhkov—though he was released the following day amid claims of prosecutorial interference.[52][50][49] Institutionally, the administration sought to reclaim control over bodies like the Supreme Judicial Council and Anti-Corruption Commission, which were viewed as loyal to entrenched interests, through leadership changes and procedural overhauls to prevent sabotage of anti-corruption drives.[50][49] However, these initiatives encountered fierce resistance, including protests by prosecutors and judges who framed reforms as threats to judicial autonomy, and appeals to EU bodies alleging rule-of-law violations—resistance that highlighted divisions between reformist aims and institutional self-preservation.[50] While Geshev remained in office until his dismissal in June 2023, Petkov's pressure contributed to subsequent mechanisms for prosecuting top officials, though the government's short tenure limited full enactment.[53][54]Budget and Economic Challenges
The Petkov government, in office from December 2021 to June 2022, grappled with acute economic strains exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including a sharp spike in energy prices after Gazprom suspended gas supplies to Bulgaria in April 2022 due to the country's refusal to pay in rubles.[55] This disruption forced rapid diversification efforts, such as increased LNG imports and interconnections with Greece, but initially drove electricity and gas costs to record highs, threatening industrial output and household affordability.[17] In response, the cabinet approved a May 2022 stimulus package compensating businesses for 80% of electricity prices exceeding 200 leva per megawatt-hour, alongside broader measures to shield consumers from the energy shock.[56] Inflation surged to an annual average of 15.33% in 2022, peaking at 16.9% year-over-year in November, fueled by energy volatility, supply chain disruptions, and imported food price increases, which eroded real incomes and pressured the lev's euro peg.[57] [58] The government countered with an anti-inflation package valued at approximately 2 billion leva (about €1 billion), including one-time payments to pensioners and students, subsidized fuel, and price caps on basic goods, though these interventions strained fiscal resources without fully curbing the inflationary spiral.[59] Persistent structural issues, such as government-mandated minimum wage hikes and pension indexation, compounded these challenges by adding upward pressure on public spending amid weak public procurement efficiency.[60] Fiscal management remained a flashpoint, with the 2022 budget deficit holding at 2.9% of GDP—among the lower in the EU—despite investment-focused expenditures justified by Prime Minister Petkov as an "investment deficit" to bolster growth.[61] [62] However, coalition partners clashed over supplemental spending priorities, including energy subsidies and North Macedonia-related aid, leading to the Democratic Bulgaria party's withdrawal in June 2022 and the government's collapse via a no-confidence vote centered on budget transparency and fiscal risks.[63] These disputes highlighted the administration's vulnerability to external shocks and internal fragility, limiting sustained economic stabilization efforts.[22]Achievements and Positive Impacts
Successful Reforms
The Petkov Government advanced energy diversification by terminating the long-term contract with Russia's Gazprom on April 26, 2022, after refusing to pay in rubles amid the EU's sanctions response to the Ukraine invasion, thereby reducing Bulgaria's reliance on Russian gas supplies that had historically accounted for over 90% of imports.[64][65] In response, the cabinet secured alternative liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from a U.S. firm starting June 2022 and accelerated the operationalization of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB), enabling non-Russian gas flows via Azerbaijan and the Mediterranean by late 2022, marking a structural shift toward multi-source supply routes.[65][66] In anti-corruption measures, the government facilitated the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) to initiate probes into over 120 cases of EU funds mismanagement and graft in March 2022, targeting irregularities from prior administrations and enhancing accountability in public spending.[52] This built on a May 2022 agreement with the Basel Institute on Governance to bolster asset recovery and institutional integrity, yielding early seizures of illicit assets and contributing to a positive interim evaluation in the European Commission's Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report, which noted progress in judicial independence and high-level investigations during the cabinet's tenure.[24][67] Fiscal responses to energy shocks included a May 2022 stimulus package capping electricity and gas prices for households and businesses, subsidized via state guarantees totaling around 1.5 billion leva (approximately €766 million), which mitigated inflation spikes and preserved industrial output amid the post-invasion price surge.[56] These steps, grounded in transparent procurement reforms, aligned with EU recovery fund conditions and supported a 3.4% GDP growth rate in 2022, per preliminary national accounts, by stabilizing household consumption and export sectors.[56]International Positioning
The Petkov government reinforced Bulgaria's alignment with Euro-Atlantic institutions, emphasizing NATO solidarity and EU integration as core foreign policy pillars. Prime Minister Kiril Petkov met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on December 17, 2021, shortly after taking office, to affirm Bulgaria's commitment to alliance goals amid regional security challenges.[68] The administration also pursued deeper EU ties, with Petkov confirming Bulgaria's aspiration to join the Schengen Area during discussions with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.[69] In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the government adopted a firmly pro-Ukrainian stance, condemning the aggression and providing humanitarian aid including clothes, tents, and blankets.[70] Petkov visited Kyiv in April 2022, expressing support for Ukraine's victory and its future EU membership, while demanding the resignation of Defense Minister Stefan Yanev on February 28, 2022, due to perceived insufficient alignment against Russian actions.[71][18] Despite internal coalition tensions with pro-Russian elements, Petkov facilitated covert arms transfers to Ukraine through intermediaries, positioning Bulgaria on "the right side of history" against Kremlin influence.[72] The administration framed anti-corruption efforts as a bulwark against foreign interference, particularly from Russia, with Petkov stating on April 9, 2022, that corruption serves as a tool for such influence, necessitating joint Western countermeasures.[25] This approach marked a shift toward proactive Euro-Atlantic engagement, contrasting prior ambivalence tied to energy dependencies and oligarchic ties, and was echoed in high-level U.S. consultations reaffirming anti-aggression support on May 9, 2022.[73][17]Public Support Metrics
The Petkov government, formed on December 13, 2021, following the November 2021 parliamentary election in which its leading party, We Continue the Change, secured 25.4% of the vote, initially garnered positive public reception amid expectations of anti-corruption reforms.[74] Early polling indicated moderate approval, with an Alpha Research survey conducted February 6–14, 2022, reporting 35% approval for the cabinet's performance.[75] The same poll assessed competence perceptions as narrowly divided, with 39% viewing the government as competent and 41% disagreeing.[75] By spring 2022, public support had eroded, as captured in another Alpha Research survey showing approximately 33% of potential voters approving the government's actions while 50% disapproved.[76] This decline aligned with emerging coalition tensions and policy disputes, particularly over foreign affairs and judicial reforms, though direct causal links remain inferred from contemporaneous reporting rather than explicit poll crosstabs.[18]| Pollster | Date | Approval (%) | Disapproval (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Research | February 6–14, 2022 | 35 | Not specified (implied remainder neutral) | BNR |
| Alpha Research | Spring 2022 | ~33 | ~50 | Prism UA |