Bulgarian Resignations Come With Consequences

The resignation of a coalition-party minister signals that the Bulgarian government remains weak and divided as it works to enhance its role promoting a new European Energy Union and NATO's strategy in Eastern Europe. On March 5, just four months after a minority government formed in Bulgaria, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov nominated Deputy Prime Minister Rumyana Bachvarova as the country's new minister of the interior. Bachavarova is a member of Borisov's own Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and replaces Veselin Vuchkov, also a top member of the center-right GERB who resigned a day earlier. Vuchkov reportedly stepped down over a dispute about the appointments for two key government posts. Such internal political disputes will limit Bulgaria's ability to achieve its foreign policy ambitions.