site.bta Second Largest Parliamentary Group to Move for No Confidence in Government after Eurozone Entry Date Is Set

Nikolay Denkov, co-floor leader of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), Tuesday said the second largest parliamentary group would move for a vote of no confidence in the Rosen Zhelyazkov government after a date is set for Bulgaria's entry in the eurozone. "We will wait for the next few steps and as soon as the date is named - hopefully January 1, 2026 - we will move for a no-confidence vote," Denkov, a former prime minister, told reporters. He said CC-DB would wait until then so as not to impede the country's eurozone accession.

On June 4, the European Commission and the European Central Bank are expected to issue reports on Bulgaria's readiness to adopt the euro from the start of 2026.

The date for Bulgaria's entry in the eurozone is expected to be announced either at the end of June or in the first days of July, after which the motion will be submitted, said Denkov. In his view, the government is failing in several areas: medical professionals' demands for a pay rise remains unresolved, and there are serious causes for concern at the Interior Ministry, involving the cover-up of a crime and protection schemes. He added: "There is still a month to go, and I am confident that new, more relevant topics will emerge, at which point we will decide which is the most important one."

"When it comes to fighting corruption, everyone must take a stand and declare whether they accept it or are willing to fight it. On this issue, we are seeking support from anyone ready to stand behind it," Denkov said, answering a question about the political forces they would expect to support the motion of no confidence. He said discussions on the motion would continue with their coalition partners, Democratic Bulgaria, noting that there are subtle differences in their positions.

So far, there have been two votes of no confidence in the Government of Rosen Zhelyazkov: one initiated by Vazrazhdane over the Cabinet's foreign policy and the other by MECh over corruption.

Asked about the protest in front of Parliament planned for Wednesday, when the ad hoc convergence report on Bulgaria will be made public, Denkov said everyone has the right to protest, provided it is done peacefully and within the bounds of the law. He said he did not expect the protest to impact the report "because what is due to be released tomorrow is an objective, independent assessment of whether Bulgaria meets certain criteria outlined in the treaties signed with the EU back in 2007".

Denkov expects the assessment to confirm that Bulgaria meets all the required criteria. From that point onwards, several political decisions must be made by the end of June or the beginning of July. There is a strong majority of 171 MPs in the 240-seat Parliament, more than two-thirds, who backed the resolution supporting the government's efforts to bring the country into the eurozone.