The leader of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, and former Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, staged a dramatic protest in the Parliament by ripping apart the anti-crisis plan of the cabinet.

Stanishev tore the plan from the Parliamentary tribune during the Thursday debates on the no confidence vote against the cabinet, requested by the opposition, telling the Members of the Parliament the plan was worthless.

He further accused the right-wing Blue Coalition and the far-right, nationalist Ataka party of supporting the failed government by refusing to take part in the debate and the vote on groundless reasons.

Stanishev denied accusations the vote aims at stirring petty Parliamentary games, pointing out the goal was to oust a cabinet leading Bulgaria to doom.

"In two years, the rule of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party will leave the bones of a socially desperate State, without European perspectives. The vote is not against particular ministers, but against Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, and his biggest election campaign lie – the promise to make Bulgaria an average European country. Where are the billions we left you; what did you spend them on and who profited all while the Bulgarian people got poorer and poorer?" Stanishev said.

The Socialist leader further accused GERB of playing out a "cynical hysteria over raising or not the minimum monthly wage," which had to be upped as early as July, 2010, adding that even if the increase happens in September, it would be "eaten by inflation."

Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, who attended the debates, countered by calling the title of the vote – failure in anti-crisis policies - blatant.

"I wonder how come you do not feel embarrassed? Did the crisis come to Bulgaria with the GERB ballot? You talk about grave consequences for the people, but when did you live like the common Bulgarian people? What are you attempting to do – convince them that we are failing? This would not pass. Everyone sees our effort. And everyone must remember that your term is very costly to us," Traikov declared.

The debates concluded at 12:40 pm. The voting will take place Friday, at the exact same hour, according to Parliamentary Code.

The no confidence vote, submitted in the Bulgarian Parliament by the opposition, needs 121 MPs voting "for" in order to pass. It is widely expected it will be rejected by the 117 GERB MPs and 6 independent ones. The Blue Coalition and Ataka declared they will not be part of the voting because they did not want to support BSP, DPS, and GERB.

Borisov and his Deputy, Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, did not attend the debates.

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