Bulgaria’s Parliament unanimously accepts resignation of government

Bulgaria’s Parliament voted unanimously on December 12 to accept the resignation of the Rossen Zhelyazkov government, which had taken office in January 2025.

In the 240-member National Assembly, the vote was 227 in favour, coming from all nine parliamentary groups and four non-aligned MPs.

Zhelyazkov announced the government’s resignation on December 11, against a backdrop of recent mass protests against the ruling majority and in particular, Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski and GERB-UDF leader Boiko Borissov.

Zhelyazkov and other members of the Cabinet were not present in the House for the two-hour debate preceding the vote, and nor were Borissov and Peevski.

The debate on the resignation amounted mainly a mutual exchange of accusations between GERB-UDF, which held the mandate to form a government, and largest opposition group We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria about who refuses to take on the burden of responsibility for the state pending the expected early parliamentary elections.

In a lengthy address, GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov told WCC-DB: “GERB will not enter into a coalition with you”.

Bikov told WCC-DB that they should not swear that they will not govern with one or another formation, because tomorrow it may turn out that they will have to interact with the same political force.

WCC-DB co-leader Assen Vassilev said that the country is governed by a “vicious model” that had been rejected by the protesting citizens.

Vassilev told GERB-UDF:”You are at the heart of this vicious model and we cannot interact with you until you renounce it, and you will not do so because it is in your DNA”.

He accused GERB-UDF of trying to shift responsibility onto him and WCC-DB, even though according to the constitution their government, which remains in office pending the appointment of a caretaker administration, still bears that responsibility.

“I would gladly take responsibility right now, but the constitution does not give me that right… You want to hold us responsible for the nonsense you will vote on in this parliament with your majority. It will not happen that way,” Vassilev said.

For exclusive subscriber-only access to The Sofia Globe’s analysis and commentary on events in Bulgaria, please sign up to our page on Patreon:

Become a Patron!