The Bulgarian government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote in parliament, sparking political unrest in the European Union country amid war in Ukraine and rising inflation.
Opposition lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who took power six months ago, by 123-116 in a vote after the ruling coalition lost its majority over budget spending disputes. whether Bulgaria should unblock Northern Macedonia’s accession to the EU.
Petkov, a 42-year-old Harvard graduate who has pledged to fight corruption, has taken a strong pro-European and pro-NATO stance since Russia invaded Ukraine, an unusual stance for a country with a traditionally friendly attitude toward Moscow. Analysts predict that a new government will bring a more neutral policy towards Russia.
“This vote is just a small step in a very long way,” Petkov said after the vote. “What they don’t understand is that this is not the way to win the Bulgarian people.”
The country is now possibly facing its fourth general election since April 2021, putting millions of euros at risk from EU recovery funds and its plans to adopt the euro in 2024.
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The blockade could also hamper Bulgaria’s efforts to secure stable natural gas inputs after Moscow cut off gas supplies to the country, which is almost entirely dependent on Russian gas, for Sofia’s refusal to pay in rubles.
Petkov has rejected any coalition negotiations with opposition parties in the House, but will seek the desertion of lawmakers in parliament to get enough support for a new government and avoid early elections.
President Rumen Radev must call early elections within two months and appoint an interim administration if Petkov fails to get a majority for a new cabinet and if two other parties in parliament cannot form a government.