site.btaParliament Rejects Vote of No Confidence in 3rd Borissov Cabinet

July 21 (BTA) -The National Assembly rejected here on
Tuesday the fifth motion for a vote of no-confidence in Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov's third Cabinet. The motion was rejected
 by 124 votes with 102 voting in favour and eleven abstaining.

The no-confidence vote was tabled last week by the Socialists
over corruption. The debates were held on Monday.

The votes in support of the Government came from GERB - 94, the
United Patriots - 21, Volya - one, and eight independent MPs.

The vote of no confidence was supported by the Bulgarian
Socialist Party - 77, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms - 24,
 and one independent MP.

Eleven Volya MPs abstained.

Protesters had once again gathered around Parliament to demand
Cabinet's resignation and that of Prosecutor General Ivan
Geshev.

The rejected no confidence vote was followed by comments and
statements by the ruling GERB party, Volya and the opposition
BSP for Bulgaria.

Incumbents

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said nothing warrants
early elections but t there will be changes. He argued that the
no-confidence motion was rejected due to political logic - not
thanks to parliamentary arithmetic. "There are no reasons or
logic to hold early general elections a couple of months before
they are due, in the midst of winter," he said. The Deputy PM
said the main reason for Cabinet to stay is that it has a lot of
 work to do. He went on to list the most pressing tasks ahead,
starting with addressing the health, social and economic
consequences of the pandemic. This will be the main focus of the
 Government's work in the next six months or so. The second task
 is to prepare all documents that would ensure access for
Bulgaria to the EU financial package. Completing the energy
projects will also be among the Government's priorities. Another
 huge task is to create the organization for machine voting, he
said, noting that this will require amendments to the Election
Code.

Environment Minister Emil Dimitrov told journalists after the
Government survived the no-confidence motion: "Everything should
 stay as it is which does not mean that what people say should
be ignored." He also said that it is up to the Prime Minister to
 decide whether he would continue to be a minister. "I would
like to help him where he deems fit. If he decides that it would
 be better for me to help in Parliament, I'll be in Parliament.
If he decides, I could help him where I am currently or in a
different place. I am on his team," Dimitrov said.

He would not say who should propose structural and personnel
changes in the Government.
 
GERB MP Manuil Manev said that the no-confidence motion was
based on "lies, nonsense and hate". He accused the Socialists of
 lying to the young people protesting in the streets that the
no-confidence motion was for them. "That is falsehood. You are
doing it because of your unfulfilled leader," he said, referring
 to BSP leader Kornelia Ninova. Manev criticized the Socialists
for wanting to destroy a state with all its institutions.

GERB MP Spas Gurnevski said that an attempted coup in Bulgaria
was prevented.

According to Labour and Social Policy Minister Denitsa Sacheva,
the Government must not resign. She also said: "The Cabinet must
 remain and complete its term in its current composition, and we
 should prepare for regular general elections." She said there
is no obstacle to having dialogue with those protesters who have
 specific demands and ideas about the future. "However, I don't
see what we could discuss with those who merely want
resignations or a coup and riots," she said. 

Volya

Volya leader Vesselin Mareshki commented that if the Socialists
really wanted to find out who is the opposition and who is not,
they should have moved for a vote of confidence instead of
no-confidence. In that case, the Government would have had to
get 121 votes, but today's vote made it obvious that Cabinet has
 its majority, he said, wishing them success.

Socialists

Socialist MP Valeri Jablianov said that things seem to be headed
 towards early elections. He urged the incumbents to do a
serious political and social analysis if they want to understand
 the motives for the no-confidence motion and a large part of
the protesters, "because in a few months' time you'll find
yourselves on the eve of elections". MORE/

NV/MY