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Tense week in Bulgaria's political life

Photo: BNR

Bulgaria went through the most staggering week in the past twenty five years of transition to democracy. The political crisis which loomed exactly one year ago with massive street protests against the current government gained unprecedented momentum after the elections for European Parliament on May 25 this year and the current week has passed at a high speed.

Politics lost logics. The institutions started slipping in a moment when the political parties were overtrumping each other with requests for the resignation of Oresharski cabinet, or more precisely with the possible date for the next early Parliamentary elections, inevitable for all sides- the ruling parties, opposition, experts and nation. The latter has been done through technical maneuvers at the National Assembly hall and passing the ball to Bulgaria’s Premier and President to take responsibility, with tricks demanding elections in July when people go on holidays or work in the fields, or at Christmas, which obstructs the adoption of the new state budget on time. It also happened through stabs in the back between the partners the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms which support the current cabinet, between ruling parties and opposition regarding the mandatory voting issue with or without a national referendum, through change of opinions every other day in disruption with a behavior that corresponds to the interests of the state. Swindles were done through the most-expected phrases such as “resignation and “early elections”. Whatresignation? Noresignationwasfiled. Why parties demand early elections? Premier Oresharski has not filed the cabinet’s resignation, because the bearer of the mandate the Bulgarian Socialist Party decided so, although, according to its leader Sergey Stanishev the party has demanded such resignation. Their coalition partners from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms requested the resignation of the cabinet, but they have to respect the decision of the party which holds the mandate of the government. On the other hand, the opposition whose hands are tied at this National Assembly uses its only ace in this wild game-the no-confidence vote against the cabinet- something pointless for all wise people, since the cabinet’s time is running out. Thus, the end of the mad week was given with the fifth consecutive no-confidence vote against the cabinet’s fiscal policy. According to previous expectations, the no-confidence vote turned unsuccessful and Premier Oresharski did not resign, at least until next Tuesday (June 17) when the sitting of the Consultative Council for National Security is to be held with the Bulgarian President. It is time for the final maneuver-the Bulgarian President has to establish public order, if any statesmen are still left in this country and the state system still means something.”




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