Bulgarian Cabinet survives fifth no-confidence vote amid allegations of governance failures

The Cabinet of Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov narrowly survived a no-confidence motion, with the parliament rejecting the challenge by a vote of 101 against to 133 in favor, and no abstentions recorded.

The motion, which accused the government of systematic failures in internal security, justice, and rising state capture, was the fifth such attempt since the coalition assumed office, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bulgarian media.

The initiative was spearheaded by the opposition Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) alongside Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh), and was co-signed by deputies from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF). The motion charged the Zhelyazkov Cabinet with a consistent inability to maintain public order, guarantee judicial integrity, and address the growing erosion of state institutions.

Support for the motion came from all 35 CC-DB deputies, 33 members of Vazrazhdane, 12 from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, 11 MECh representatives, and 10 deputies from Velichie. However, the government coalition, comprising 65 MPs from GERB-UDF, 19 from BSP – United Left, and 17 from There Is Such a People, along with 28 members of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning, stood firmly against the motion. Additionally, the four unaffiliated MPs sided with the government.

This marks the fifth no-confidence vote faced by Zhelyazkov’s government since taking office. Previous motions targeted distinct sectors, including foreign policy (initiated by Vazrazhdane and backed by Velichie and MECh), anti-corruption efforts (launched by MECh with support from Velichie and Vazrazhdane), fiscal policy (filed by Vazrazhdane with backing from MECh and Velichie), and environmental and water management (proposed by Velichie and supported by MECh, Vazrazhdane, as well as Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria and the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms).

By Vafa Guliyeva