Bulgarian parties that are in talks to form the new ruling coalition will include the dispute with Macedonia as one of the topics where they need to align their positions. The parties, which include three protest movements and the BSP socialist party, will open their talks on foreign policy in the coming days, through a public forum that is broadcast online.

Bulgaria is blocking Macedonia from opening its EU accession talks as it demands major concessions on issues of national identity and history. Macedonia was hoping that the electoral victory of a newly formed protest party – PP – will change Sofia’s approach and moderate their position. But BSP, and President Rumen Radev, remain hardline in their attitude toward Macedonia. Another of the protest parties, ITN led by showman Slavi Trifonov, is also hardline in its positions.