Coalition Fractures in Parliament Speaker Vote
Tensions erupted within the Bulgarian Parliament during the ninth round of voting for Speaker, casting a shadow of suspicion over the ruling coalition. Petko Petkov, co-chair of the Continue the Change party (PP), publicly accused members of his own coalition, the Democratic Bulgaria (DB), of orchestrating a “sanitary cordon breach” alongside opposition parties to undermine their candidate.
Accusations of Collaboration and ‘Evil Genius’
Petko Petkov’s accusations stemmed from the unexpected divisions within the coalition during the vote. While the PP-DB alliance initially backed Atanas Atanasov in the first round, they ultimately split in the runoff, with 17 DB deputies choosing Silvi Kirilov, a candidate supported by the opposition GERB party. This unexpected turn of events prompted a scathing analysis from Petko Petkov, who Likened the situation to an orchestrated performance, calling Boyko Borisov, the leader of GERB, and Delyan Peevski, a controversial media mogul, “evil geniuses” pulling the strings behind the scenes.
In a Facebook post, Petko Petkov asserted that all parties, including those within the PP-DB coalition, were playing into the hands of Borisov and Peevski. He criticized the DB members who jumped ship, accusing them of “bowing” to the opposition’s pressure and acting against the coalition’s interests. “No matter how skillfully they have concealed themselves until now, today all the artists appeared on the stage of Parliament and bowed,” Petko Petkov declared.
DB Admits Seeking GERB Support, Coalition Fragility Exposed
DB’s actions in the runoff further fueled the fire of controversy. Ivaylo Mirchev, a DB member, confirmed from the parliamentary rostrum that their deputies had sought support from GERB for Atanasov, leading to a rift within the coalition.
Petko Petkov, deeply disappointed by the developments, paints a bleak picture, stating that what transpired in Parliament wasn’t a theatrical performance but a matter directly affecting the lives of Bulgarians He urged immediate action and transparency. “I believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel, as long as we understand what is happening and really, by all means, oppose what is happening,” He implored supporters. “At the beginning, we must talk and explain to our loved ones, each in our own words, so they understand…”
The incident exposes a worrisome fragility within the ruling coalition and raises questions about the stability of the government. The accusations of manipulation and betrayal raise concerns about the future of political cooperation and the ability of the coalition to address pressing issues facing the country.
- Could the accusations of collusion between Democratic Bulgaria and GERB be politically motivated, aimed at undermining the ruling coalition?
## Bulgaria’s Fragile Coalition on the Brink?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is political analyst Dr. Ivan Ivanov to discuss the unfolding drama in the Bulgarian Parliament. Dr. Ivanov, tensions seem to be at an all-time high following the ninth round of voting for Speaker. Can you shed some light on what happened?
**Dr. Ivanov:** Certainly. This Speaker vote has exposed deep cracks within the ruling coalition. Petko Petkov, co-chair of the Continue the Change party, has accused members of his own coalition partner, Democratic Bulgaria, of colluding with the opposition GERB party. Essentially, Petkov believes that DB deputies deliberately sabotaged their coalition’s candidate by voting for Silvi Kirilov, a GERB-backed candidate.
**Host:** This accusation is quite serious. What’s the evidence suggesting such a collaboration?
**Dr. Ivanov:** Well, the evidence is circumstantial but compelling. The initial unity within the PP-DB alliance shattered during the runoff vote. Seventeen DB deputies chose Kirilov over the coalition’s preferred candidate, Atanas Atanasov. This unexpected shift prompted Petkov’s outburst, where he described it as a planned “sanitary cordon breach” orchestrated by GERB leader Boyko Borisov.
**Host:** So, the coalition seems to be on very shaky ground.
**Dr. Ivanov:** Absolutely. This incident has severely damaged trust within the coalition. Whether this is a fatal blow or just a temporary setback remains to be seen. The upcoming weeks will be critical.
**Host:** And this all comes just months after another election, as reported by Al Jazeera [ [1](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/27/bulgarians-vote-in-another-election-but-end-to-political-deadlock-unlikely) ]. Bulgaria seems to be stuck in a cycle of political instability.
**Dr. Ivanov:** Precisely. The current political landscape is characterized by deep divisions and a lack of clear consensus. Bulgarians are understandably frustrated with the ongoing political deadlock.
**Host:** Dr. Ivanov, thank you for providing such insightful analysis.
**Dr. Ivanov:** My pleasure.
