Instability and disintegration marked political 2024. The year started calmly. At least seemingly. The regular cabinet lasted 9 months. But the tension between the partners smoldered. The rotation was clearly impossible.
The most important events in the country's political life are recalled by BNT.
Boyko Borisov, chairman of GERB: "This rotation, it's like docking in an orbital station - it's never been done."
Kiril Petkov, co-chairman of PP-DB: "The next prime minister must be Mariya Gabriel."
Delyan Peevski, MRF: "This government has every chance of serving a full term."
Kostadin Kostadinov, chairman of "Vazrazhdane": "We will work for early elections."
Kornelia Ninova, chairman of BSP: "Instead of rotation, resignation and disassembly."
Toshko Yordanov, chairman of the PG of the ITN: "There has never been a more humiliating, incompetent, immoral and harmful government in recent Bulgarian history."
Before the rotation in the non-coalition, they were evaluating the ministers and supposedly had no claims to the posts.
"Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs should be Denkov", insisted Kiril Petkov.
"All important ministers and deputy ministers of the PP-DB and Maria - like a cuckoo sitting in the Council of Ministers", commented Boyko Borisov.
PP-DB proposed a memorandum. GERB-SDF - coalition agreement.
"I will not sign the so-called memorandum. "Everything has limits," said Maria Gabriel - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"This memorandum is not an ultimatum," said Kiril Petkov.
Tension between Delyan Peevski and Hristo Ivanov.
"Hristo Ivanov drank greasy Turkish coffee in my office and sat on my lap until the Constitution happened," said Delyan Peevski.
"We are an ancient profession, but the profession from which such compromising material is extracted and you turn yourself into compromising material is more ancient than ours," said Hristo Ivanov - co-chair of PP-DB.
"Mr. Magnitsky" versus "Mr. Cash" - the war between Delyan Peevski and Rumen Radev has entered a new phase.
"Your spotlight should shine on the presidency - a dark institution full of cash", said Delyan Peevski.
"I will not comment on Mr. Magnitsky", emphasized Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
"I expect him to resign and to see him on the political field become a political leader", said Peevski.
"This staged media hysteria betrays fear of a new party", said President Radev.
Nikolay Denkov resigned a day earlier than expected. The resignation was voted down, express, unanimously and in the absence of Borisov and Gabriel.
"This is not a political game. This is keeping a word", noted Nikolay Denkov - the resigned Prime Minister.
"What did they need to destroy the government today? We are going to elections", said Boyko Borisov.
They dismantled the non-coalition, but never put together a coalition. They negotiated until the last moment.
"I am returning the mandate fulfilled", said Maria Gabriel - the resigned Deputy Prime Minister.
"Without being coordinated with us", noted Nikolay Denkov.
"Ms. Gabriel is no longer part of the solution, but is part of the problem - perhaps the newest and most beautiful face of the mafia in Bulgaria", commented Assen Vassilev - co-chairman of PP-DB.
"They should immediately apologize to GERB, but above all to Maria Gabriel", insisted Borisov.
"I would apologize to the woman Maria Gabriel, but I think her behavior is absolutely inexcusable", believes Assen Vassilev.
"This, what we are saying today is very clear - everything is over", emphasized Denitsa Sacheva - GERB-SDF.
The President signed the decree. Maria Gabriel refused to be prime minister. Failure of the second, failure of the third term. And the search for a caretaker prime minister.
"I open the Constitution, read the possibilities, point out and go through the "house book" line by line, said Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
"This is a difficult decision for both of us. But the alternative was to throw the state into a constitutional crisis," noted Dimitar Glavchev - Chairman of the Court of Accounts.
"We will have a caretaker cabinet of GERB and MRF, probably", commented Kostadin Kostadinov - Chairman of "Vazrazhdane".
The Minister of Discord - Kalin Stoyanov retained his post.
The tenth caretaker cabinet in our recent history was sworn in.
Arrests followed at the "Customs Agency", photos of politicians with smugglers' badges appeared, even a pet with bundles of euros. In the battle between the former partners, another victim fell - the speaker of the parliament.
"Sometimes you have to be silent to be heard", believes Rosen Zhelyazkov - speaker of the 49th National Assembly.
"And when someone is campaigning on my back, they should know that it is very big, but also very slippery", said Boyko Borisov.
"In addition to having a big back, he also has a big neck. However, unfortunately, at the moment Mr. Peevski is hanging on to him and is suffocating him", commented Kiril Petkov.
"And Kiril, who explains who is hanging on to whom, let me tell you: he was begging and whining to be taken to Borisov, who had not spoken to him for two months", said Delyan Peevski.
Another election. And after the vote - internal party turbulence.
"I have submitted my resignation", announced Hristo Ivanov - Chairman of the Bulgarian Democratic Party.
"I take political responsibility and submit my resignation", said Kornelia Ninova - Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party.
Proposals and ultimatums followed.
"We will propose a government and it will be of the minority", was categorical Boyko Borisov - Chairman of GERB.
"We owe nothing to Mr. Borisov", stated Nikolay Denkov - PP-DB.
"We will not support a government of GERB", emphasized Atanas Zafirov - I.F. Chairman of the BSP.
"In our opinion, the most correct option is for it to be an expert cabinet", said Toshko Yordanov - ITN.
Rosen Zhelyazkov took a mandate and returned it fulfilled. Just as the bills were almost out, the DPS split. Ahmed Dogan did not provide support. The cabinet did not pass.
"One cross makes two gallows", said Rosen Zhelyazkov - GERB-SDS.
The second mandate was supposed to be for the DPS. After a mass expulsion of deputies from the group, the third became the second and the PP-DB received the mandate. The answer of the first for the second term:
"No, no, no, no", Borisov cut off.
"All of Bulgaria is hostage to the two people - Borisov and Peevski", claims Kiril Petkov.
"It is obvious that the political crisis continues", summarized Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Deja vu - an unsuccessful second, unsuccessful third term. And again to the "home book" with potential prime ministers. For a week, Goritsa Grancharova was in the spotlight.
"Is Mr. Kalin Stoyanov more important to you than Bulgaria having peace and a government?", asked Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
"I have made my decision with conviction, information, and expertise", emphasized Goritsa Grancharova - Deputy Chairman of the Court of Accounts
"I will not sign a decree. There will be no oath in parliament tomorrow," President Radev pointed out.
"There was a certain pressure on who would be and who wouldn't be", said Goritsa Grancharova - Deputy Chairperson of the Chamber of Accounts.
"For me, this woman turned out to be a bigger man than many others put together", commented Kalin Stoyanov - Minister of Interior.
"If Kalin Stoyanov is fired in the most unfair way, I will personally invite him to be the leader of my party's list,", said Delyan Peevski.
Glavchev headed a second caretaker government without Kalin Stoyanov.
"Hairliya be there", said Dimitar Glavchev - caretaker Prime Minister.
Discord also in BSP. They expelled Cornelia Ninova.
"There are no emotions in this matter. There is nothing personal", emphasized Atanas Zafirov - acting chairman of the BSP.
"They will hold me hostage to legalize their lawlessness", said Cornelia Ninova.
Borisov proposed a gentleman's agreement before the vote.
"To be a gentleman, you have to keep your word", believes Kiril Petkov.
"This is how far they have come (points to his forehead)", commented Boyko Borisov.
And the last day of the 50th National Assembly ended with cables pulled out and lights out.
New elections, low turnout and 8 parties in parliament. In the last seconds with 3.999% "Velicie" remained 21 votes outside the parliament. We found them, distributed to other parties.
"3.999 is a demonstration of Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski", said Ivelin Mihaylov - PP "Velicie".
In Belitsa, a member of a commission voted instead of the voters.
It seems as if I am writing, but I am not writing. I will never allow myself to do so," said Antoaneta Shondrova - member of SIC 04 in Belitsa.
In Garmen, they fulfilled the set quota.
And complaints to the Constitutional Court poured in - for partial and complete cancellation of the vote. The court united them in one case and the counting of ballots from 1,777 polling stations began.
"Interference with the elections is also an interference with national security", is categorical Iliyana Yotova - Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Against the backdrop of 7 protests - the 51st parliament got underway. Peevski's attack on the president continued.
"This building has been turned into a safe full of bundles. This building. U for Radev, uuuu, uuuu!", chanted Delyan Peevski - Chairman of "DPS - New Beginning".
"We should not be naive that this audacity on steroids will be realized, will disappear by itself", said Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
"Are we on steroids? What is this? Steroids - something like aliens", a woman at the protest in support of Peevski suggested.
"The Magnitsky-sanctioned oligarchy is swallowing the state in big bites", summarized Rumen Radev - President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
PP-DB demanded a sanitary cordon around Peevski.
This declaration - we do not want to bend Boyko Borisov", said Kiril Petkov - co-chairman of PP.
"Okay, there is no MRF, I will not work with them", noted Boyko Borisov - chairman of GERB.
"We have a majority to form a government without GERB and both MRFs", said Kostadin Kostadinov - chairman of "Vazrazhdane".
"We propose to expand the scope on the cordon and this is GERB and the MRF to be isolated", commented Radostin Vassilev - Chairman of MECH.
"The country needs a cabinet, this is a priori", was categorical Ahmed Dogan - Honorary Chairman of the MRF.
"I'm waiting to see what kind of inferior assembly they will make", said Delyan Peevski - Chairman of "MPS - New Beginning".
"To form a supra-party cabinet, equidistant from all political forces", is the opinion of Atanas Zafirov - Acting Chairman of the BSP.
"We would not work with the formation around Delyan Peevski", emphasized Toshko Yordanov - Chairman of the PG of the ITN.
26 days the parliament elects a chairman. On the 11th attempt, Natalia Kiselova was elected after the BSP supported the declaration of a cordon around Peevski.
"I will be the Speaker of the National Assembly for all", noted Natalia Kiselova - Speaker of the 51st National Assembly.
And while the PP-DB did not back down from their conditions:
"Atanasov Speaker of the Parliament, signed, Borisov Prime Minister", said Boyko Borisov - Chairman of GERB on November 25.
"I am no longer a candidate, I do not want to deal with this broken country", Borisov said on November 26.
"If they want a strong government that will do the job - I should be the Prime Minister", he noted on December 10 Borisov.
"I will never be the reason for something not to happen", Borisov summed up on December 19.
"And with Borisov, Prime Minister, let's talk seriously...", commented Asen Vassilev - co-chairman of the PP.
"Boyko Borisov - Prime Minister - absurd", cut off Toshko Yordanov - chairman of the PG of the ITN.
GERB, DB, BSP and ITN have started negotiations. PP said they are waiting for a signature for the cordon.
The more silent we are, the better", Borisov believes.
"There is a chance to arrange a regular government", commented Atanas Atanasov - co-chairman of PP-DB.
PP-DB was looking for support to stop the election of Sarafov as chief prosecutor, and the prosecution began to demand immunities for deputies.
"I will give up my immunity", said Lena Borislavova - PP-DB.
"From today on, I am an accused", said Kiril Petkov - co-chairman of PP.
The election game had a price - 7 early votes for over 700 million leva. And how much more would democracy cost us if the crisis continued?