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Political turmoil in Bulgaria – no-confidence vote on Wednesday

A no-confidence vote on Wednesday threatens to topple Bulgaria’s government and Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, who pledged to tackle corruption and took a strong stance against Russia. The four-party coalition took office six months ago only to disintegrate earlier this month over disagreements on budget spending and whether Bulgaria should unlock North Macedonia’s EU accession.

The country now faces a new round of political turmoil and possibly its fourth national election since April 2021, putting at risk millions of euros from EU recovery funds and its plans to adopt the European currency in 2024.

Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov’s government is facing a no-confidence vote today — and is likely to lose.

It would be the fall of an administration that vowed to clean up endemic corruption and took an unusually strong position against Russia.https://t.co/U8LSymSXQg

— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) June 22, 2022

The gridlock may also hinder Bulgaria’s efforts to secure stable natural gas inflows after Moscow cut gas deliveries to the Balkan country over Sofia’s refusal to pay in roubles. Speaking during a debate on the no-confidence motion in parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Petkov appealed to lawmakers to support his cabinet amid the war in Ukraine and surging inflation.

“This government will not allow stealing from Bulgarian taxpayers,” Petkov said. “You have to decide – you have a genuine chance to push the country into political crisis in times of war.”

Political differences could lead to early elections

The Bulgarian MP has taken a strong pro-European and pro-NATO position, he sacked his defence minister in February for refusing to call the Russian invasion of Ukraine a “war”, backed EU sanctions against Moscow, and agreed to repair Ukraine’s heavy military machinery while stopping short of sending arms to Kyiv.

The former coalition partner ITN left the government after accusing Petkov of disregarding Bulgaria’s interests by pushing to lift its veto on North Macedonia’s EU accession talks under pressure from its EU and NATO allies.

Even if the government survives the vote, it could hardly secure a stable backing in a longer run,” political analyst Dobromir Zhivkovwith said. “Early elections are very much on the table,” he added.

Fresh polls are likely to benefit Borissov’s GERB party, as well as pro-Russian parties like nationalist Revival as the economic woes and the war in Ukraine, polarise the society.

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