Zhelyazkov’s Cabinet Begins with Promising Ratings Amid Political Polarization
Bulgaria’s newly formed government under Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has started its term with a promising initial rating of 39% positive against 29% negative evaluations, according to a recent poll by Alpha Research. This marks a important moment in Bulgarian politics, as it is teh first government in years to begin with such a favorable position.The Zhelyazkov cabinet is now compared to the last regular government led by Kiril Petkov, which started with 35% positive to 23% negative ratings, and the first government of Boyko Borisov in 2009, which enjoyed an notable 47% positive to 8% negative approval.
“The office ‘Zhelyazkov’ begins to work with a good starting position. At this point, though, they express their relief from the end of the political crisis and the expectation that the processes will be blocked in several areas,” commented the authors of the study.
Strong Support from GERB and DPS
Table of Contents
- Strong Support from GERB and DPS
- Polarized Views on Prime Minister Zhelyazkov
- Party Dynamics and Leadership Trust
- President Radev’s Rising Popularity
- key Takeaways
- Q&A: Insights into Bulgaria’s Political Landscape in 2025
- Editor: The zhelyazkov cabinet seems to have a mixed reception. How would you describe its starting position?
- Editor: which political parties are backing the new cabinet,and how does the opposition view it?
- Editor: what do the public and political analysts think about the option of a “regular government” versus elections?
- Editor: How is Prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov perceived by the public?
- Editor: Can you outline the current dynamics among Bulgaria’s political parties and their leaders?
- Editor: How has President Rumen Radev’s popularity evolved recently?
- Conclusion
The cabinet enjoys strong backing from GERB, the party of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, and the DPS of Ahmed Dogan. Though, trust among opposition party sympathizers remains low, with the highest levels of support coming from voters of MECH and PP-DB.
“the eight extraordinary parliamentary elections in the last few years and the inability to solve the political crisis in our country are a convincing argument for finding a different solution. Another reason for it is the growing doubt in Bulgarian society about the fairness of the elections. Therefore, taking into account the current situation and possibilities, 69% stand behind the option of ‘regular government’, while elections are the preferred alternative with only 19% of Bulgarians of legal age,” said Alpha Research.
Support for a regular government prevails across all parties except MECH,which remains deeply polarized on the issue.
Polarized Views on Prime Minister Zhelyazkov
Public opinion on Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov is sharply divided, with 29% expressing trust and 26% distrusting him. A significant 46% remain undecided.
“The higher support for the government compared to the support for the Prime Minister comes from the fact that Rosen Zhelyazkov is a political figure with a unique connection to GERB. That is why the sympathy of this party is only behind him,” noted sociologists.
Supporters of the other coalition partners currently maintain a neutral stance toward Zhelyazkov.
Party Dynamics and Leadership Trust
GERB continues to dominate the political landscape with 26% support, far ahead of its competitors. Boyko Borisov remains the most trusted leader, with his positive ratings increasing by 3% and negative ratings decreasing by 2%, resulting in a 24.4% trust rating. Confidence in Borisov is even higher at 49.4%.
The battle for second place is tight between PP-DB with 13.4% and “revival” with 13.1%. DPS – A New Beginning holds fourth place with 10.8% support, while its leader Delyan Peevski faces significant distrust at 79.9%.
Other parties, such as BSP and ITN, are stabilizing their roles. BSP retains 8.0% support, and its leader Atanas Zafirov has a 12.5% approval rating. ITN is backed by 6.2% of voters, with leader Slavi Trifonov seeing a positive trend at 15.0% approval.
President Radev’s Rising Popularity
President Rumen Radev has also seen a 5% increase in approval, reaching 44%, while his disapproval stands at 31%.
“One of the prerequisites for this development is that this is the only institution in the country’s governance that has remained without serious upheaval in recent years,” said Alpha Research.
key Takeaways
| Aspect | details |
|————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Zhelyazkov Cabinet | 39% positive, 29% negative |
| GERB Support | 26% support, Boyko Borisov at 24.4% trust |
| Prime Minister trust | 29% trust, 26% distrust, 46% undecided |
| Party Rankings | GERB (26%), PP-DB (13.4%), Revival (13.1%), DPS (10.8%) |
| President Radev | 44% approval, 31% disapproval |
The Alpha Research survey, conducted between January 15 – 20, 2025, provides a complete snapshot of Bulgaria’s political landscape as the Zhelyazkov cabinet takes the helm.With strong initial support but lingering polarization, the government faces the challenge of uniting a divided electorate while addressing the nation’s pressing issues.
Q&A: Insights into Bulgaria’s Political Landscape in 2025
Editor: The zhelyazkov cabinet seems to have a mixed reception. How would you describe its starting position?
Guest: The Zhelyazkov cabinet begins its tenure with a relatively positive start, evidenced by a 47% approval rating. However,there are notable concerns,with 8% expressing disapproval. The government is seen as a relief from the prolonged political crisis, but there are expectations of potential roadblocks in several areas.
Editor: which political parties are backing the new cabinet,and how does the opposition view it?
Guest: The cabinet enjoys strong support from GERB,led by former Prime minister Boyko Borisov,and the DPS of Ahmed Dogan. However, trust among opposition party sympathizers remains low. the highest levels of support come from voters of MECH and PP-DB.
Editor: what do the public and political analysts think about the option of a “regular government” versus elections?
Guest: According to Alpha Research,69% of Bulgarians support the idea of a regular government,while only 19% prefer elections. This sentiment stems from the eight extraordinary parliamentary elections in recent years and growing doubts about the fairness of elections.
Editor: How is Prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov perceived by the public?
Guest: Public opinion on Rosen Zhelyazkov is sharply divided.While 29% express trust in him, 26% distrust him, and a significant 46% remain undecided. His unique connection to GERB plays a key role in his support base, while coalition partners maintain a neutral stance.
Editor: Can you outline the current dynamics among Bulgaria’s political parties and their leaders?
Guest: GERB continues to lead with 26% support, with Boyko borisov enjoying a 24.4% trust rating.The battle for second place is tight between PP-DB (13.4%) and Revival (13.1%). DPS – A New Beginning holds fourth place with 10.8% support, though its leader Delyan peevski faces 79.9% distrust. Other parties like BSP and ITN are stabilizing, with their leaders seeing moderate approval.
Editor: How has President Rumen Radev’s popularity evolved recently?
Guest: President Rumen Radev has seen a 5% increase44%, while his disapproval stands at 31%. His steady position in the country’s governance, without major upheaval, has contributed to this growth.
Conclusion
The Alpha Research survey highlights a politically polarized Bulgaria in 2025. The Zhelyazkov cabinet begins with modest support, backed by GERB and DPS, but faces significant challenges in uniting a divided electorate.While a regular government is favored over elections, public opinion on Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and party leaders remains split. President Rumen Radev continues to grow in popularity, reflecting his stable leadership in turbulent times.
