SOFIA - Bulgaria's ruling Socialists yesterday proposed the formation of a "broad coalition government", implicitly giving in to opposition demands for early elections.
The party chairman, Mr Georgy Parvanov, said the Coalition would "transform at the end of April into an interim government" which, under the Bulgarian constitution, cannot last longer than two months, with legislative elections to be held by the end of that period.
The Socialists (ex Communists) had been preparing to form a government of technocrats, due to be presented to, parliament today or tomorrow. They have been bitterly opposed by the opposition which has organised nationwide protests and strikes to press for early elections.