SOFIA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova on Thursday asked the newly appointed caretaker prime minister-designate Andrey Gurov to propose the lineup of a caretaker government shortly.
"I expect you to present the composition of a caretaker government within one week," Iotova told Gurov at a live broadcast ceremony.
If approved by the president, the caretaker government will replace the coalition government led by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, which resigned in December 2025.
Under the constitution, the president must also schedule early parliamentary elections to be held within two months.
"Expectations for you are extremely high. We, the Bulgarian citizens, want fair, transparent, well-prepared and well-conducted elections," Iotova said, adding that the country's current problems require urgent solutions.
Gurov pledged to act with "reason and responsibility," saying he would do everything possible to assemble a team with experience, expertise, and integrity.
Gurov, 50, currently serves as a deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank. He was previously a member of the Bulgarian Parliament and an associate professor at the American University in Bulgaria, specializing in corporate finance, risk management, company valuation, and investment management. ■