site.btaParliament Debates Fourth No-Confidence Motion against PM Zhelyazkov’s Cabinet

The fourth no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s cabinet over failures in the environment and water sector was debated in Parliament on Wednesday. The fourth motion was tabled before the vote on the third no-confidence motion earlier in July. The motion was tabled by the parliamentary group of Velichie, supported by MPs from Vazrazhdane and Moral, Unity, Honour (MECh).

Velichie Deputy Floor Leader Krasimira Katincharova Wednesday presented the reasoning behind the fourth no-confidence motion against Zhelyazkov’s cabinet. Katincharova warned that Bulgaria is facing a deepening crisis in waste mismanagement, which she described as an environmental disaster and a threat to public health and the country’s EU reputation. She criticized the government's response as negligent and marked by arrogance and inaction. Despite strict Bulgarian and EU laws, illegal landfills persist due to poor enforcement and weak regulation, rendering waste management laws ineffective. Drawing a parallel with Italy’s costly EU fines, she warned that Bulgaria risks similar sanctions. Field inspections revealed widespread illegal dumping, including industrial waste near water sources, across the country, pointing to systemic institutional failure.

There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Dragomir Petrov said that the topic of environmental protection should not be turned into a circus, while scaremongering about hazardous waste with absolutely no evidence is irresponsible. He stated that accusing institutions of deliberate inaction without knowing the regulatory framework is politically unprofessional. Petrov dismissed the no-confidence motion as sensationalist and lacking factual basis or understanding of governmental responsibilities. He argued that blaming the government for issues legally under mayoral jurisdiction is either ignorant or intentionally misleading. Petrov emphasized that illegal landfills are a longstanding issue and noted that the current government, in office for only five months, is actively addressing the problem. He compared the motion's arguments to "cheap judicial pleading" full of unfounded accusations and warned that its sponsors seek publicity rather than real solutions. Katincharova replied that her party is not in power to offer any solutions. 

Petya Tsankova MP of BSP - United Left said that a no-confidence vote in the Government will not remove a single landfill, it will only wipe out the authority of Parliament when used irresponsibly. Tsankova urged her colleagues to reject the no-confidence motion, not because environmental problems do not exist, but because the motion offers no real solutions. She emphasized the need for consistent and responsible work rather than attention-seeking political gestures, stressing that environmental protection is a shared duty of institutions, businesses, and citizens. Tsankova noted that the fourth no-confidence motion was submitted before the third, calling it evidence of the opposition’s political weakness. She warned that complex environmental issues cannot be solved through symbolic votes or media-driven politics. 

MP Hyusni Adem said that the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) will support an upcoming no-confidence vote against the government over its failures in the environment and water sector. “We are doing this in the name of the public interest,” Adem said, emphasizing that environmental issues must not be used as a tool for political propaganda. He outlined ARF's proposals to tackle the crisis, including a timeline for closing illegal landfills, updated legislation, external audits of environmental inspectorates, and mechanisms for citizen oversight. Adem criticized Bulgaria for systematically breaching EU directives on water, waste, and air quality, highlighting widespread problems like water shortages, pollution, and poor waste management. He also condemned the government's chaotic approach, delays, and failure to effectively utilize EU funds for environmental reforms.