The political landscape in Bulgaria faces turmoil once again as the ruling coalition crumbles under the weight of corruption and Russian influence, leading to the imminent sixth election in three years.

       Outgoing Bulgarian premier Nikolai Denkov attributes the collapse to entrenched corruption, which he claims serves as a conduit for Russian interference.

       In an interview with the Financial Times, Denkov lamented the struggles of his administration in combating graft and Moscow's deep-rooted connections within Bulgaria, particularly in sectors like energy.

       He pointed to previous energy deals that favoured Russia's Gazprom as prime examples of this influence.

       "A lot of the Russian influence in the past, in the energy sector for example, came through corruption," Denkov said.

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       The coalition, formed last year between Boyko Borisov's party Gerb and two liberal parties, including Denkov's We Continue the Change, collapsed over disagreements on reforms targeting corruption and security agencies. Borisov's tenure, marked by mass protests against corruption, saw controversial deals like the TurkStream pipeline, which critics argue benefited Russian interests.

       Analysts anticipated the government's downfall, citing Gerb's resistance to deep reforms and its alliance with figures like Delyan Peevski, a local oligarch accused of corruption and sanctioned by the US and UK. Peevski's sway over Gerb, Denkov alleges, hindered meaningful coalition discussions.

       However, Peevski's party, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), vehemently denies promoting Russian interests, confirming its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration.

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       In response to allegations, a Gerb spokesperson stressed the party's independence and denied Peevski's presence in internal coalition talks.

       Meanwhile, Borisov defended his administration against graft accusations, accusing coalition partners of power accumulation and manipulation.

       With the collapse of the coalition, President Rumen Radev appointed a caretaker administration under the leadership of Dimitar Glavchev, the country's chief auditor, setting the stage for elections on June 9.

       Despite political uncertainty, Bulgaria remains steadfast in its arms manufacturing industry, crucial for supplying Soviet-standard ammunition to Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. Denkov urged EU partners to bolster their own production capabilities.