site.btaNational Assembly Chair Kiselova Calls No-confidence Motion Motives Abuse of Power

National Assembly Chair and member of the BSP-United Left parliamentary group Nataliya Kiselova commented on the motives behind the motion of no-confidence in the Zhelyazkov cabinet, expressing disappointment and calling it an “abuse of power”.

 The debate on the no-confidence motion, tabled by 59 MPs from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) and Alliance for Rights and Freedoms,  lasted several hours on Wednesday.

“We had to hear what the government has or has not done during these nine months,” Kiselova said. “We heard about social policy, energy issues, the environment, internal security, public order, and justice,” she noted. The draft decision calls for a vote of no confidence in connection with the government's failure in the sectors of internal security and justice, Kiselova also said, noting that most of the motives repeat the motives from the motion of no confidence from April this year, less than six months ago. “When a vote of no confidence is rejected, the grounds cannot be used,” Kiselova stressed. She recalled that there are two decisions of the Constitutional Court on this issue. According to her, criticism related to problems in previous years was heard in Wednesday's debate.

“We have a problem with the addressees, who is the vote of no confidence directed at, two ministers, the government, or the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Commission,” Kiselova added. “In 2023, you knew very well that it was better to elect members to the Supreme Judicial Council and inspectors than to embark on changes to the Constitution,” she commented, adding: “Now you are proposing that we change the law again and postpone any discussion, which is evident in the motives.”

Kiselova believes that the no-confidence vote motion is an abuse of the law. “In nine months, this is the fifth vote, you are preparing for the sixth, you are turning it into a routine that has no weight,” she said. She added that the Stanishev Cabinet had survived seven no-confidence votes in four years.