site.btaSocialists Table No-Confidence Vote in Government

Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) on Wednesday tabled a motion of no-confidence in the third Borissov cabinet 'over its failed anti-corruption policies'.

The motion was signed by 80 socialist MPs. The motives, set forth over ten pages, involve the sectors of healthcare, public procurement, construction, building renovation and contraband.

Speaking to the media in Parliament, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said that the vote will show who has the will to fight corruption and who hasn't. "It is better to stand alone against corruption than be part of the status quo which protects it," she said. Ninova added that the majority rejected a motion for an inquiry commission into the building renovation programme.

The BSP leader said that the no-confidence vote was no sabotage of the Bulgarian EU Presidency but a reaction by 83 per cent of Bulgarians who think it is the most pressing problem. According to her, the fight against corruption and all actions of the opposition including the vote of no-confidence is a pro-European policy and not an anti-European one.

GERB MP Toma Bikov told the media that the no-confidence vote was an imitation of political activity. "While Europe hails the Bulgarian Presidency and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in Strasbourg, the opposition tables a motion of no-confidence without any motives," he said.

He speculated that the no-confidence vote has three possible goals. The first to oust the government will not succeed because it won't garner enough votes and because Bulgaria has some of its best economic indicators in ten years.

The second goal is a revision of a specific policy and the third to consolidate the opposition which didn't succeed either.

"The BSP have made a very serious mistake, the vote is a badly played step and they will suffer all negative consequences," said Bikov.