Sofia, 2 August 2022 (dpa/MIA) — A transitional government was sworn in on Tuesday in Bulgaria to lead the country until the next elections, following the collapse of the pro-western coalition government in late June. Installed by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, the cabinet of experts around Prime Minister Galab Donev will govern until Oct. 2, when new elections are due to take place. The previous liberal-socialist coalition, led by Kiril Petkov, had received a vote of no confidence after just over half a year in power. Radev called on the transitional government to focus on the priorities of securing the country's supply of energy and food, dealing with "skyrocketing inflation," and rooting out corruption. With regard to the war in Ukraine, Radev, who is regarded as Russia-friendly, said to the new Cabinet that "your first priority should be to avoid the country getting caught up in the conflict." Bulgaria is heavily dependent on Russian energy imports, but Russia halted direct gas exports to the country after former Prime Minister Petkov refused to pay in Russian roubles. Relations between the two countries were further strained when Bulgaria expelled 70 diplomats and staff of the Russian embassy on suspicion of espionage in late June. Radev also disbanded the Bulgarian parliament on Tuesday. The elections on Oct. 2 will be the fourth parliamentary elections since April 2021. Experts expect nationalist and pro-Russian parties to gain ground in the coming elections. The new prime minister, Donev, has been minister in charge of social policy multiple times already. He is regarded as an ally of Radev, along with Dimitar Stoyanov, the new defense minister. The new foreign minister is Nikolay Milkov, the former Bulgarian ambassador in Paris.