site.btaPM Zhelyazkov’s Government Survives Fifth No-Confidence Vote

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov Thursday survived a no-confidence vote over failures in the sectors of internal security and justice, and worsening state capture. The motion was defeated in a 101-133 vote, with no abstentions.

The motion was backed by all 35 deputies of CC-DB, 33 of Vazrazhdane, 12 of Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, 11 of MECh and 10 of Velichie.

The “against” votes included all groups in the government coalition (65 of GERB-UDF, 19 of BSP – United Left and 17 of There Is Such a People) and 28 of MRF – New Beginning. The four unaffiliated MPs also voted to back the government.

The motion was submitted on September 12 by Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and Morality, Unity, Honour (MECH), who accuse the Zhelyazkov Cabinet of a systematic failure in maintaining public order and security, ensuring justice, and tackling the erosion of state institutions. The motion is co-signed by MPs from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF).

It was the fifth no-confidence vote for this government. The first one was for failure in the foreign policy sector initiated by Vazrazhdane, backed by Velichie and MECh. It was followed by one for failure in the fight against corruption initiated by MECh, supported by Velichie and Vazrazhdane. The next one was for failure in the area of fiscal policy submitted by Vazrazhdane, with support from MECh and Velichie. The fourth was for failure in the environment and water sector initiated by Velichie, supported by MECh and Vazrazhdane, and additionally backed in plenary by MPs of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms.

Reactions

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said after the vote: “The government continues its work to maintain stability in the country and foster partnerships with institutions both within and outside Bulgaria,” said he. The PM said further: “The Council of Ministers has listened to the claims, arguments, and reasoning presented by the opposition. We responded with our own arguments and reasoning. I hope this has resulted in a debate, which is the very purpose of parliamentary oversight.” Zhelyazkov pointed out that in recent days there has been an escalation of public tension, provoked by rhetoric from both parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition groups. “The goal was to create the appearance of a revolutionary situation,” Zhelyazkov stated.

BSP-United Left MP Atanas Atanasov said the opposition knew that the no-confidence motion would fail. “"You cannot bring down a sitting government in 2025 with plagiarized arguments referring to previous administrations, some of which involve parties now in opposition,” Atanasov argued. He called on the opposition to concentrate on important matters “rather than continuing cheap political theatrics".

MRF - New Beginning Leader Delyan Peevski commented that now that the no-confidence motion has been defeated, the Government and the National Assembly should work, and “there must be a State”. Peevski said he was not surprised by the vote, which he described as a waste of time. He predicted that the government will serve out the three years and four month remaining of its four-year term in office.

Ivaylo Mirchev, the Co-chair of Yes, Bulgaria within the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) parliamentary group, said the motion's defeat showed that the country has three prime ministers – one formal one, Rosen Zhelyazkov, one who really wants to be prime minister but even today is not in the plenary hall to support his own government, and one who is the real prime minister - the person who just left the plenary hall. (Immediately after the vote, MRF - New Beginning leader Delian Peevski left the plenary hall, and GERB leader Boyko Borisov did not attend the vote.) In Mirchev's words, Bulgaria is ruled by an illegitimate centre of power.

Vazrazhdane Leader Kostadin Kostadinov said the failure of the motion of no confidence in the Rosen Zhelyazkov Cabinet on Thursday was not a surprise. "A people who choose their own executioners are not victims but accomplices," Kostadinov said.

MECh MP Krasimir Manov warned: “There will be more no-confidence votes.” He said: “There will be votes over finances, agriculture, drought, energy — and perhaps there will be a vote that will finally bring down this government.” Manov also said: “With this latest vote, you, gentlemen in government, have for the first time managed to unite the opposition.”

Comments before the vote

GERB Leader Boyko Borissov, who stayed out of the vote, commented hours before the procedure: “The opposition are ostensibly active to make themselves noticed by the people, but they know that nothing will come out of it. I will not even bother to take part in the vote. I don’t care if it is successful or not. The Bulgarian people should realize how irresponsible those people are, because without a government there can be no eurozone membership, no state budget. A possible caretaker government cannot take us into the eurozone.”