Select a language
"Storm in a glass of water," headlines Trud. The Sofia daily reports on the 20 January vote of confidence, which has ensured the survival of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. At the end of a particularly heated session in parliament, with one MP doused with water by an angry colleague, Trud explains that the government, which benefited from the support of Borisov’s centre-right GERB and its ally the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, obtained the votes of 140 of the 214 MPs present. At the beginning of the month, the country was rocked by Tanovgate — a telephone tapping scandal named after the national customs chief Vanio Tanov — and information leaked to the Bulgarian press which implied that certain members of the government, including the Prime Minister, "were protecting" a number of trafficking businesses. In response to the controversy, Borisov claimed the wiretap tapes had been manipulated by “organised criminals intent on attacking” his government, and called for a confidence vote in parliament.
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!
