Ex-king unveils Bulgarian cabinet

Simeon has worked hard to achieve compromise

By Nick Thorpe

Bulgaria's prime minister-designate and former king, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has announced his cabinet after weeks of delicate negotiations with the countries leading political parties.

The 16-member coalition cabinet includes economists with experience in Western Europe, two members of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms and two city mayors from the Socialist Party.

Simeon hopes to stimulate Bulgaria's stagnant economy

Attempts to include the most popular ministers from the outgoing Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) government failed when the party decided it would be served best by going into opposition.

The Socialist Party has also chosen opposition, but has allowed two of its members - the mayors of the cities of Blagoevgrad and of Ruse - to take part in the cabinet.

The Ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, is represented in government for the first time since the overthrow of the communist system.

Little-known

Most of the new ministers are little-known professionals, especially in the posts of economy and finance.

Solomon Passy, the new foreign minister, is the longest-standing proponent of Bulgarian membership in Nato.

The government will have its first test on Tuesday when it faces a vote of confidence in the new parliament, where the ruling coalition enjoys a comfortable majority of 141 out of 240 seats.