Bulgarian Nationalists Threaten Gov't over Appointment of Sofia Governor

A co-leader of the Patriotic Front (PF) has said the coalition has no good move other then to withdraw its support from the Bulgarian minority government.

Krasimir Karakachanov made his comment in Parliament after Veselin Penev was appointed district governor of the capital Sofia on Wednesday.

Penev is a member of Freedom and Dignity People's Party (NPSD), an entity within the junior coalition partner Reformist Bloc (RB) which the PF believes is serving "Turkish interests".

The cabinet's decision to appoint Penev, alongside 23 other district governors, sparked the anger of nationalists, who had already announced they could stop backing the government if Deputy Defense Minister Orhan Ismailov, also picked by NPSD, remains at his post.

PF leaders Krasimir Karakachanov and Valeri Simeonov met Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev to discuss the case with Ismailov on Wednesday and reportedly told him he is affiliated to "foreign [intelligence] services and is dangerous for national security". The cabinet, however, is currently determined to keep the deputy.

After the replacement of nearly all district governors was announced and the name of Valeri Penev was unveiled, Karakachanov added his appointment "makes matters worse".

But he added the PF would not take a final decision whether or not to withdraw its support from the cabinet before its political council convened next week.

Patriots are the kingmaker in Bulgaria's government, which otherwise falls short of a parliamentary majority (118 seats, out of 240).

At the same time the Bulgarian Democratic Center (BDC), the Parliament group of MEP Nikolay Barekov's Bulgaria without Censorship-led coalition, has offered to extend a hand to the government to...