site.btaParliament Holds Nearly Two-Hour Debate on Zhelyazkov Cabinet's Resignation

MPs spent nearly two hours debating the draft resolution to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and his Cabinet on Friday. The resignation was accepted unanimously, with all 227 MPs voting in favor. The debate centered on who should bear responsibility for next year’s budget.

Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov argued that the government fell because of the anger expressed by tens of thousands of people protesting across the country. The budget and the arrogant way in which it was pushed through were merely the trigger, he added. In his words, the resignation was long overdue, and some ministers in the cabinet had been nothing more than figureheads. He added that the  isolation of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski began in the streets and that it was Parliament’s duty to complete that process in order to put an end to the political crisis. Bozhanov called for Peevski’s National Service for Protection security detail to be withdrawn next week, for a discussion on applying the Magnitsky sanctions to which Peevski is subjected, for Anton Slavchev to be dismissed from the Anti-Corruption Commission - which he described as a "bludgeon" - and for the Supreme Judicial Council to remove acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov. The resignation should serve as a lesson that unless the model of backstage politics is dismantled, the crisis will persist, Bozhanov said. 

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said: "Congratulations to all free Bulgarians. Congratulations that we managed to consign this government of thugs, oligarchs, and corruption to history. Congratulations on your victory, Bulgarians! We did it. Long live Bulgaria!"

Toma Bikov of GERB-UDF said that his political entity had always maintained that it was impossible to govern amid abnormally high public tension. "We never intended to govern in spite of the situation. Over the past year, our parliamentary group’s assessment of our ministers had been positive," he noted. Bikov acknowledged that they had failed to fulfill one of their main goals for this Parliament, that is resolving the political crisis, which, in his words, will persist. "We will honour our commitment to have an extended budget. In the current situation a new budget is not possible, and this was already made clear yesterday. This is the normal political logic that follows a cabinet’s resignation," he said. "From now on, it is [CC leader and former finance minister] Assen Vassilev and [President] Rumen Radev who have the legitimacy to speak on budget matters," Bikov added. "I hope that the President will take responsibility, finally announce his political project, and run in the parliamentary elections," he said. Bikov also expressed hope that the election campaign would be conducted in a spirit of tolerance and would focus on the future rather than just the present.

Assen Vassilev of CC-DB said the outgoing government had been harmful to Bulgaria and it would be consigned to history with relief. He argued that the governance model involving MRF – New Beginning was damaging to this country. Until Bulgarian citizens have their say and transfer power, authority remains with the current government under the Constitution, and afterwards with the caretaker cabinet, Vassilev said. "It is easy for you to 'throw in the towel' and say that Assen Vassilev is to blame. Assen Vassilev will be to blame when we form a government and start governing. Until then, the blame lies with you," he said.

BSP – United Left Floor Leader Dragomir Stoynev said that after listening closely to the exchange between GERB and CC-DB, he feared analysts might be right in predicting significant political chaos. "I feel like we are returning to the chaos of a year ago," he said. The responsibility lies with Parliament and all those within the "Power Triangle," Stoynev added, noting that this triangle could become a "Bermuda Triangle" for any political force that ignores the public’s voice. He predicted a spiral of elections and stressed the urgent need for a budget.

Martin Dimitrov of CC-DB said that in recent months those in power had appointed the vast majority of regulatory bodies, which he described as the true long-term power holders in Bulgaria. "You did not listen to us about any of the candidates," he noted, adding that the regulators do not seem to be doing their job. "You can neither escape nor hide from this responsibility," Dimitrov said.

There Is Such a People Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov recalled that when CC-DB governed together with MRF, it was MRF who chaired the Committee on Budget and Finance. "You drafted the budget together with them - every budget that brought the country to this point. You amended the Constitution together, elected constitutional judges together with MRF," he said, pointing to what he described as CC-DB's "innate hypocrisy". Yordanov argued that there was no budget because of CC-DB, and that as a result there would be no increases in social payments.

Hayri Sadakov of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms said that now was the time to draw conclusions and look for answers about the country’s future development. "When we had to vote for the Zhelyazkov Cabinet at the very beginning, we made our conscious choice, as we were aware that the Peevski model was beginning to take shape," Sadakov said. "Everyone must take responsibility for the future, because the people who filled the squares were not there for just a few days. They will be watching us constantly," Sadakov said.

GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva said that her party would not jeopardize the future of Bulgarian citizens or leave the country in chaos. Addressing Assen Vassilev, she said: "What we told you is that we will no longer bear responsibility for the realization of your dreams. Don’t you realize that you have collapsed under the weight of your political debts, and that no one will extend you a quick loan in the next parliament? Even Radev, who called you charlatans, will not give you one." She thanked outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov for remaining grounded and resisting the temptations of power. Sacheva also thanked her coalition partners, BSP and TISP, as well as MRF, for their support.

Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) leader Radostin Vasilev expressed his satisfaction that the resignation of what he called the GERB–MRF government was being debated. "This is a success for Bulgaria," he said, adding that many truths had come to light. "The overall conclusion is that anyone who comes in contact with GERB and MRF eventually disappears from the political scene. Today, Sacheva sent BSP and TISP on their final journey," Vasilev said. In his words, it was not the opposition that brought down this model of governance, but public discontent.