site.btaOctober 28, 1992: Bulgaria’s First Anti-Communist Government Loses Confidence Vote

On October 28, 1992, the 36th National Assembly voted by secret ballot, 111 to 120, to reject a motion of confidence sought by Bulgaria's first anti-communist government, headed by Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov, on its overall policy in the economy, internal and foreign affairs, and security. Following the failed vote, Dimitrov tendered his cabinet's resignation to Parliament.

On November 8, 1991, the National Assembly elected Dimitrov's minority cabinet formed by the Union of Democratic Forces with the support of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). The UDF had won parliamentary elections in October 1991 but did not secure enough seats for a parliamentary majority.

On August 30, 1992, President Zhelyu Zhelev, the first leader of the Union of Democratic Forces, held a press conference at the Boyana Residence, during which he openly criticized Dimitrov's cabinet for entering into conflict with the media, trade unions, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the presidential institution, and extra-parliamentary political formations.

Over the following two months, political tensions in the country mounted. In September, voices within the Union of Democratic Forces and the Movement of Rights and Freedoms called for a reshuffle or a new cabinet. Around the same time, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms initiated a motion for the resignation of National Assembly Chair Stefan Savov of the Union of Democratic Forces, and the motion was backed by Bulgarian Socialist Party MPs. Soon after, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms declared in a statement published in the BTA home news bulletin that it was withdrawing its political support from Prime Minister Dimitrov, though its leader Ahmed Dogan clarified that this did not amount to a full withdrawal of confidence in the entire government. On September 24, Savov resigned as head of Parliament.

On November 12, 1992, President Zhelev again mandated Filip Dimitrov to form a new cabinet, which failed to gain parliamentary approval when put to the vote on November 20. On December 30, 1992, the National Assembly elected Lyuben Berov prime minister on the mandate of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Following is the original English-language news item of BTA's External Service of October 28, 1992, covering the plenary sitting at which the Filip Dimitrov Cabinet failed the vote of confidence:

"PARLIAMENT VOTES NO CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT, FILIP DIMITROV RESIGNS

Sofia, October 29 (BTA) - Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov handed in the resignation of his Government after Parliament failed to pass the vote of confidence in the Government requested by the Prime Minister by a narrow margin.

At its sitting today (October 28), which continued for about seven hours. Parliament discussed the policy of the Government in connection with the request submitted by the Prime Minister a week ago for a vote of confidence in the Cabinet's overall policy. Under the Constitution, in order to be passed, a vote of confidence requires a majority of more than half of the votes of the MPs present.

The MPs of the opposition Socialist Party (the ex-communist party) and the majority of the MPs of the ethnic Turks' Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) demanded that this resolution be voted by secret ballot.

Filip Dimitrov's Cabinet received the confidence of 111 of the total of 231 MPs. 120 MPs voted against. "We are not parting with power voluntarily or by some whim of ours. Several days ago I appealed to you to make your choice and take the responsibility and the parliamentary groups of the former communist party and the DPS did so," Filip Dimitrov said after the results of the vote were announced in Parliament. In the lobbies he told journalists that it remains to be seen whether it is possible to form a new cabinet with the same Parliament.

"If this proves impossible then there would emerge a situation requiring new elections which would result in yet another delay of the structural stage of the reform," said Filip Dimitrov, who is also leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS).

"We are convinced that the DPS and the SDS will find the strength to overcome their differences. The SDS has the necessary potential to form a new cabinet of the SDS with the support of the DPS and if necessary with the direct participation of representatives of the Movement," said DPS Spokesman Yunal Lyutfi.

In a statement to the press. Socialist leader Zhan Videnov also mentioned the holding of early parliamentary elections. But in his statement in Parliament he appealed to the SDS and the DPS to hold bilateral and multilateral consultations for finding a way out of the present crisis.

Today representatives of the Socialists met for the first time with representatives of the SDS. Following this meeting, BSP floor leader Nora Ananieva did not rule out the possibility of the formation of a government of experts and said that the bilateral talks would continue.

Filip Dimitrov's cabinet was formed in November last year with the parliamentary support of the SDS and the DPS following the narrow victory of the SDS over the BSP in the parliamentary elections. This May the cabinet was reformed after long consultations between the parliamentary allies - the SDS and the DPS, but already then the DPS declared that it hopes that the consultations for new changes in the Government would continue. In late September the DPS divested Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov of its political confidence.

At its three-day political conference in mid-September the SDS adopted a categorical decision stating that if Parliament votes for the resignation of the Cabinet, it would once again assign Filip Dimitrov to form the new cabinet. The name of Finance Minister Ivan Kostov is also mentioned in the SDS circles as that of a possible future prime minister.

After Parliament's resolution was announced the floor leaders of the SDS and the DPS declined to answer the question whether the consultations between the two political forces would continue after today's vote. EK.ED/ND/"