Bulgarian Parliament to Debate No-Confidence Motion

Bulgaria's Parliament will convene on Friday to debate the no-confidence motion submitted by the opposition GERB party.

This would happen only if there is the necessary quorum in Parliament. It is not yet known how many deputies of the ruling coalition will be present on Friday, as the debate is not part of a regular parliamentary session. The leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Sergey Stanishev commented that it would be more appropriate to discuss the motion after the European Elections, Dnevnik reports.

This is the fourth no-confidence motion submitted by ex-Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's GERB, and concerns the energy policies of the current government.

GERB's motives for the no-confidence vote are for alleged political pressure over the national power regulator DKEVR to strip the licenses of the foreign-based electricity distribution companies in Bulgaria. Another motive is the South Stream gas pipeline, a project that according to Borisov is failing because of the current Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev.

At least 121 MPs must vote in favour of the no-confidence motion in order to take down the government. GERB has 94 representatives in Parliament.