South Stream passes through shift in power in Bulgaria

Yesterday, negotiations on forming a coalition on the results of the parliamentary elections began in Bulgaria. The opposition party GERB ("Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria") expects to form a minority government, eliminating the need to agree on establishment of a "grand coalition" with the former ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). GERB intends to decide the fate of South Stream in consultation with the European Union.

The Sunday election in Bulgaria has been called a "last chance": the country will receive the fifth Government since 2009. The country had to go to new early voting after the ruling BSP lost the elections to the European Parliament on the background of mass protests against the economic policies, and the opposition failed to form a government.