Government resigns without waiting for vote of no confidence

At a briefing after a meeting of the coalition partners and shortly before the sixth vote of no confidence in the cabinet, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced that the government was resigning. "We have no doubt that the government will receive support in the upcoming vote of no confidence. Nevertheless, the decisions of the National Assembly matter when they reflect the will of the people. We hear the voice of the citizens who are protesting, so we also hear their demands, which include the resignation of the government," the Prime Minister said. According to him, the protests in Bulgaria in recent days are protests about values ​​and behaviour, not social ones.

The sixth vote of no confidence in the cabinet of Rosen Zhelyazkov was proposed over failure of the government in economic policy, which led to some of the largest protests in Bulgaria. The request was submitted last Friday by 61 MPs from PP-DB, Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and MECH. The opposition pointed out the role of the leader of DPS - New Beginning, Delyan Peevski, who was sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act, in the governance of the country. The fourth largest parliamentary force participates as an informal partner in making important decisions for the state.

The vote was scheduled for 13.30, but the group of ITN, which is coalition partner in the government, requested a 30-minute break, without explaining why. After that, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov gave a briefing at which he announced the resignation of the government.

After Prime Minister Zhelyazkov's briefing in parliament, the vote of no confidence followed. Due to lack of quorum, the vote of no confidence was declared unsuccessful and the session was closed.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Photo: BTA