Former caretaker minister Galab Donev is being considered for the post of Speaker of Bulgaria's 52nd National Assembly, according to comments made by trade union leader Dimitar Manolov in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio.
Manolov said that although there had been expectations that Donev might take over the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, he is now seen as a potential candidate for the parliamentary leadership instead. ?One expectation was that Galab Donev would take over the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, but he would take over the Parliament,? he noted.
He also stressed that, at this stage, the configuration of the future government remains unclear, adding that electoral programs often do not reflect the realities of governance. According to him, the documents presented during the campaign contained ?too much eclecticism and unclear things?, making effective implementation difficult.
The trade union leader underlined that unions will set out their demands to the incoming administration of ?Progressive Bulgaria? in the near future, once the structure of the new government becomes clearer. ?We are currently in a confused, dizzying situation,? he said, adding that key ministerial appointments will be closely watched, particularly in finance, labor, energy and ecology.
Manolov highlighted several priority areas for upcoming talks, including the state of the energy sector, education, healthcare and the pension system, which he described as being under severe strain. He also pointed to the need for discussions on minimum wage rules aligned with EU directives and reforms in public administration payment systems.
He further argued that the introduction of the euro and related inflationary pressures must be reflected in the state budget, which he said should address existing economic imbalances. According to him, ?Progressive Bulgaria? will inevitably meet with both trade unions and employers, whether jointly or separately.
Manolov concluded by recalling the importance of the tripartite dialogue between government, employers and unions, stressing that effective communication structures will be essential for addressing upcoming economic and social challenges.
