Bulgarian Socialists Name New Cabinet

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria’s ruling Socialist Party named a new government Monday, risking violence from struggling citizens who have demonstrated daily over the country’s economic chaos.

Tensions were high Monday as the Socialists--the Communists’ successors--ignored pointed suggestions by the president to surrender their mandate to govern.

Traffic came to a complete standstill in Sofia, the capital, as public transport workers went on strike and students blocked key intersections.

Efforts to resolve hyper-inflation and plummeting wages in Bulgaria have been paralyzed by political disputes over whether the Socialists would continue to rule.

A previous Socialist government resigned in December, but because the party is the largest in parliament, it legally had another chance to form a government.

On Monday, Socialist Party leaders overwhelmingly approved a proposed Cabinet under Prime Minister-designate Nikolai Dobrev. Dobrev must now present his proposed Cabinet to President Petar Stoyanov, who will call parliament for a vote, probably Wednesday.