Bulgaria's Socialist Opposition to Seek No Confidence Vote

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)'s leader Mihail Mikov said on Saturday the socialists moght propose to other parties in Parliament a motion of no confidence against the government of Boyko Borisov.

In an interview with private national bTV station, he said energy and healthcare were two sectors where developments required such a motion.

"Stability has its cost and it is that 50% of Bulgarian citizens live in poverty. The mantra of fiscal stability is paid off with BGN 16 B in debt and this is pushing the country into a debt spiral," Mikov said, in a reference to Borisov's assurances of "stability" in Bulgaria in stark contrast to life under the socialist-dominated government of 2013-2014.

The opposition leader added an invitation to jointly submit a motion against the cabinet might be extended not only to opposition parties such as liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) and nationalist Ataka, but also to "Radan Kanev" and his group.

Radan Kanev is the leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) a right-wing party which is a member of government coalition partner Reformist Bloc (RB) but which moved into opposition after Parliament defied some of the proposals for judicial reform.

Kanev has been among the most vocal critics of the BSP (both during the socialist party's previous tenure and in its current role of an opposition) and has maintained the DPS should be held accountable of running Bulgaria's political life from behind the scenes.

The DSB, however, allowed its member Petar Moskov to remain in office as Health Minister, despite having made clear he would withdraw. Moskov has been blamed by the opposition for flaws in a healthcare reform he is carrying out which includes cutting costs at a number of hospitals and...