14 May 2013 Last updated at 11:10 ET

Bulgaria profile

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President: Rosen Plevneliev

President Plevneliev is a former construction minister

Rosen Plevneliev, the outgoing construction minister, won the presidential elections in a run-off in October 2011, beating Socialist candidate Ivaylo Kalfin.

He took office in January 2012 for a five-year term in a post that carries few real powers.

As the ruling GERB party candidate, Mr Plevneliev's victory was expected to provide a boost to Prime Minister Boiko Borisov before parliamentary elections in 2013, and bolster the government's push for painful economic reforms.

Election observers expressed some concerns at reports of vote-buying and also at anti-Roma rhetoric by nationalist candidates in the wake of ethnic clashes in the south of the country in September.

Caretaker prime minister: Marin Raikov

Marin Raikov was ambassador to France

Marin Raikov was named caretaker prime minister in March 2013, after weeks without a government, to lead a non-partisan caretaker cabinet until elections in May.

He was ambassador to France at the time of his appointment.

The conservative government of Boiko Borisov stepped down in February after street protests against high energy bills and corruption. Mr Borisov's Gerb party narrowly beat the socialists in May's parliamentary elections, but fell short of a majority.