President Rumen Radev has announced October 2 as the date for Bulgaria's fourth parliamentary elections in less than two years following the collapse in June of reformist Prime Minister Kiril Petkov's coalition government.
Radev also appointed Galab Donev, a former labor minister, to lead a caretaker cabinet as the European Union's poorest member country faces surging inflation and uncertainty about its gas supplies.
The cabinet will serve from August 2 until a new government is formed after the October 2 elections.
The Socialist Party last month gave up plans to propose a new coalition government after failing for the third time in a row to form a majority in parliament following Petkov's resignation prompted by a no-confidence vote.
Donev's government is largely expected to take a softer line toward Moscow, which could include efforts to renew Russian gas imports. It may also try to mend ties with Moscow after Petkov's government expelled 70 Russian diplomatic staff over espionage concerns.
