"The third mandate was doomed a priori because of the specific position of GERB, who are in pre-election mode", Alexander Simov from the National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party told BNR. 

The chances of forming a government with the BSP's third mandate are zero, GERB MP Delyan Dobrev told BNR.

The electoral code and the position on the war in Ukraine will be the main issues on which "We Continue the Change" will seek consensus with the BSP to support a cabinet of the left, said "We Continue the Change" MP and former parliament speaker Nikola Minchev. 

On January 16, the president will hand the BSP a mandate to nominate a prime minister-designate and use the last chance to form a government in the 48th parliament.