As of: 06/22/2022 7:09 p.m
After just six months, the government in Sofia was voted out of office by parliament. There was a dispute mainly about state finances and the relationship with neighboring North Macedonia.
In Bulgaria, the social-liberal government was overthrown by a vote of no confidence. A narrow majority of 123 members of parliament in Sofia withdrew Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s confidence. At least 121 votes were needed. 116 deputies spoke out in favor of Petkov.
The application was submitted by the largest opposition faction, GERB, led by the conservative ex-Prime Minister Boyko Borissow. She accuses the Petkov government of failure “in the areas of public finance and economic policy.”
The government was about to fall
The government that has now been toppled is considered pro-Western and was only formed six months ago. The former entrepreneur Petkow had started with a promise to fight corruption.
His governing coalition collapsed in early June when the populist party ITN terminated it over budget issues and relations with neighboring North Macedonia. Since then, Petkov has not had his own majority in parliament.
Dispute over North Macedonia
He had recently tried to bring Bulgaria and North Macedonia, which itself would like to become a member of the EU, closer together, which is controversial in Bulgaria.
The vote of no confidence is the first successful one in the country’s history. President Rumen Radev can now instruct other parties to form a government three times. If this is unsuccessful, there are new elections. It would be the fourth elections in Bulgaria since last year.