Socialist Party in Bulgaria: Government to Resign

We want a change in the model through resignation of the government. Bulgaria is ruled by a parallel state. This was said at a press conference by the leader the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Korneliya Ninova, after a meeting of the party's Executive Bureau on June 9.

"We are starting a petition in every city to call for the resignation of the government. We want a people's vote of no confidence. If the petition receives strong support, it could turn into a no-confidence vote," Ninova said.

The petition is not intended to be partisan and the BSP hopes to unite all people who are dissatisfied with the country's governance.

The proposal is made by the party's Executive Bureau and will be approved by the BSP National Council on Saturday.

The opposition will also propose the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate claims by fugitive gambling businessman Vassil Bozhkov of government's abuse of power and corruption.

***

Once considered to be the wealthiest Bulgarian person, Vassil Bozhkov lost his gambling business in early 2020 when Parliament passed the amendments to the Gambling Act thus banning lottery games organised by private operators.

On January 29, the Prosecutor's Office pressed charges against Bozhkov on seven counts and then in February charged him with 4 more, thus the criminal charges against him adding up to 11. He has been charged with evasion of more than 700 million BGN in gambling licensing fees, money laundering, extortion, bribery, murder, abetting in murder, attempted rape, leading an organized crime group, trading in influence, and unlawful possession of cultural assets. The businessman left the country prior to completion of the inquiries and is now in the...