Sofia, 12 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Renewed political disputes in Bulgaria have left the newly elected parliament unable to take up its work, less than two weeks after elections.

The Bulgarian National Assembly failed to elect a speaker during a constituent session on Wednesday, with neither of the two candidates managing to achieve the necessary majority.

The parliament cannot begin work without an elected chair and parliamentary groups. The impasse also means President Rumen Radev cannot give any party a mandate to attempt to form a new government.

Six opposing political factions are currently represented in the chamber.

Political gridlock in Bulgaria has left the country without a stable government or durable coalition in parliament. The vote earlier this month was the country's fifth parliamentary election in the last two years.

The latest election results showed the centre-right alliance of Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) behind ex-prime minister Boyko Borisov at 26%.

The liberal-conservative alliance of We Continue the Change (PP) and Democratic Bulgaria (DB) behind ex-prime minister Kiril Petkov finished in second with 24%.

But Petkov has already rejected the prospect of the two alliances forming a coalition government, saying that the bloc behind Borisov holds "different values." Backers of the alliance view Borisov and his GERB party as corrupt.

The elections for speaker of parliament were adjourned until Thursday. The parties also disagreed on a surprise proposal by the second-placed PP-DB bloc to share the speakership between the two leading camps on a two-month rotating basis.

Photo: BTA