Sofia, May 08 (QNA) - Former Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was sworn in today as Prime Minister of his country, less than three weeks after the eighth general election in five years.
124 members of parliament voted in favor of the single-party government formed by Radev to replace the caretaker government, while 70 voted against it and 36 abstained.
Radev's center-left Progressive Bulgaria party emerged as the strongest party in the snap elections held on April 19, securing 44.6 percent of the vote.
Radev, a 63-year-old former military general, declared war on corruption in his country, affirming that Bulgaria would be a "respected and effective country in Europe and the world, defending its interests within the alliances to which it belongs, such as the European Union and NATO."
Radev is one of his country's most prominent political figures. He rose through the ranks of the military, eventually commanding the Air Force before leaving in 2016 to enter politics. He was elected president that same year and re-elected in 2021 for a second term. He resigned from office last January, but returned to the political scene by forming this coalition, which led to his becoming prime minister.
He is also known for his cautious stance on European Union policies, his previous calls to maintain dialogue with Russia, and his reservations about sending military aid to Ukraine. (QNA)