Bulgarian parliament approves new coalition government

Sofia, Bulgaria, Dec 13 (EFE).- Bulgaria’s parliament on Monday approved the new coalition government led by prime minister Kiril Petkov in a bid to end a political crisis after eight months and three elections.

Petkov’s four-party coalition received 134 votes in favor against 104 no votes and two abstentions.

The new coalition government will be led by nine executive members from Petkov’s anti-corruption We Continue The Change party (PP), Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), There is Such a People party (ITN) and Democratic Bulgaria party.

Together, the four parties have a majority of 134 seats of the 240 in the Chamber.

Petkov announced the new government’s keystones will be zero tolerance for corruption, the fight against poverty and economic development of the country.

There will be “absolute transparency of every public coin spent,” the prime minister promised, referring to his predecessor Boiko Borisov, who stepped down in April after losing his majority over corruption and organized crime scandals.

“I will be the first among a group of equals,” Petkov, a 41-year-old businessman and economist, said.

“We can only achieve our goals as a team, we have to work together,” he added.

Bulgaria, the poorest country in the European Union with an average monthly salary of about 750 euros, has held three legislative elections in the last eight months amid a political turmoil and anti-government protests. EFE

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