Bulgaria's Road to Eurozone Stalled: Political Crisis Inflicts Billion-Lev Blow
As Bulgaria grapples with a deepening political crisis and the looming specter of early elections, the economic ramifications are starkly evident
The junior USR-Plus partner in Romania’s centrist coalition government announced it will remove its ministers from the cabinet on Tuesday, paving the way for a parliamentary vote of no-confidence against Liberal Prime Minister Florin Citu, Reuters reported. The fracture of the three-party coalition, which includes Romania’s largest party, Citu’s Liberals, an ethnic Hungarian group and the USR-Plus, could endanger an ambitious agenda to reduce the Black Sea state’s budget and external deficits.
Crisis talks on Friday between coalition partners failed to yield a deal to support Citu, with USR-Plus insisting on toppling him with the help of opposition ultra-nationalists.
“Tomorrow morning, our ministers’ resignation papers will sit on the premier’s table,” USR leader Dan Barna told reporters on Monday evening. “This is a tough decision and... we’re not going to have a negotiating night.”
The coalition jointly controls 56% of parliament, and Barna stressed that his grouping would like to keep the current governing coalition, “but without Citu, as he lost our trust.”
Barna had said the USR-Plus has been gathering 122 signatures for a no-confidence vote with the help of nationalist party AUR, after its justice minister was sacked when he opposed a local infrastructure development funding scheme.
The 10 billion-euro funding programme designed by Citu to support local communities’ infrastructure projects was approved by the government last week but was deemed by USR as a tool to lure powerful town mayors to back Citu at a nationwide level.
To pass, the USR-Plus no-confidence motion would need at least 234 votes, with the bulk of leftist opposition Social Democrats deputies required to back it. A calendar for the motion is to be approved by deputies on Tuesday.
Citu, a relative newcomer but backed by centrist President Klaus Iohannis, hopes to win the Liberal Party leadership in an internal election this month.
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With 129 votes "in favor" and 103 "against", the deputies voted for the resignation of the Speaker of the Parliament Rosen Zhelyazkov
Vazovsky Machine Building Plants (VMZ) in Sopot have achieved a remarkable milestone, recording a staggering BGN 828 million in net sales revenue for the year 2023, doubling compared to the previous year
In a bid to support its agricultural sector amidst the ongoing tensions stemming from Russia's war against Ukraine, Bulgaria announces a significant aid package for farmers
Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs, criticized the Yemeni Houthis for their inhumane actions in capturing merchant ships, including the "Galaxy Leader"
In a recent session of the Municipal Council in Gorna Oryahovitsa, a scandalous statement made by a councilor has ignited widespread public outrage
In a last-minute move, GERB and DPS have put forward amendments to the Law on Gambling aimed at prohibiting the mass advertising of gambling, including on television, radio, and news websites
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