Yes, Bulgaria will appeal against a ruling by the Central Election Commission (CEC) that the Council of Ministers broke no election rules, the party's press office said. The commission did not rule on the substance of more than 105 complaints that the Government Information Service and the cabinet's official channels were used to back Iliana Yotova's candidacy.

At issue is whether the Council of Ministers' website and press office can carry a call by prime minister Rumen Radev to back a named candidate for president.

The previous development: Election commission finds no breach of electoral code in Radev's remarks

Yes, Bulgaria says the CEC majority, formed by the votes of Progressive Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane, did everything it could to avoid answering whether this is allowed. The party says the commission's arguments changed during the meeting and responsibility was passed around. Only its unwillingness to rule stayed the same.

The statement calls it especially worrying that these are not a party page, a personal profile or a campaign platform, but official channels run on public resources. The CEC cannot be an "institutional shield" for those in power, Yes, Bulgaria says. The party adds that the commission's independence is not a privilege that lets it dodge awkward decisions, but a duty to apply the law equally to everyone.