Stanishev Government
Stanishev Government | |
---|---|
Sergei Stanishev | |
Deputy head of government | See list
|
Member parties | 2009) |
Predecessor | Sakskoburggotski Government |
Successor | First Borisov Government |
The eighty-ninth cabinet of Bulgaria, also known as the Three-party coalition cabinet (
Formation
Following the
On Wednesday July 26 the first vote was supposed to be held but had to be postponed when opposition parties walked out of parliament, denying quorum.[1]
The following day the Socialists succeeded in winning the support of the
The leaders of the rightist parties then met with
Stanishev sent a personal letter to Sakskoburggotski with 12 questions to see if a coalition was possible. After being satisfied by only 2 of the responses, he rejected the idea of forming a government under the second mandate and started negotiations under the third mandate.[9] Citing the "complicated political situation in the country" the NDSV decided not to exercise its right to nominate a prime minister-designate and try to form a government on August 11.[10]
According to article 99 (3) the President now had to consult with parties and then entrust the third mandate with one of the minor parties.[11] Even though Parvanov consulted with all the parties, it was viewed that only the BSP, NDSV (having made a U-turn and was back working with the Socialists), MRF and BPU could form a coalition.[12] After discussions wrapped up the President dealt the third mandate to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms who nominated Sergei Stanishev for Prime Minister. He was approved by a vote of 168 to 67. The structure cabinet was approved 169-67 and its line-up was approved 169–68.[13]
On January 1, 2007, during his term, the European Union accepted Bulgaria as a member, after several previous governments prepared the country's membership in this structure. There is also a significant increase in the standard of living, with an almost double increase in the average salary in Bulgaria from BGN 354 (2006) to about BGN 600 (2009). For the same period the minimum pension jumps from BGN 85 to BGN 136. The tripartite coalition is also introducing the lowest flat tax in the EU - 10%, which stimulates business activity. Stanishev's government also managed to keep education spending at around 4.3% of GDP, increasing from BGN 1.65 to 2.2 billion in 2004–2007. Science has been supported by the purchase of a supercomputer, which as of November 2009 is the 377th most powerful in the world and is used for medical research, seismological and construction calculations.
On 23 July 2008, the European Commission suspended interim payments under the Roads Fund on suspicion of a conflict of interest and the authorities' inability to fight corruption. The opposition, led by DSB, UDF and GERB, launched a petition for the resignation of the government, which collected more than 1 million signatures, but the petition was taken lightly by Prime Minister Stanishev with the words: "Hello, circus performers." According to Stanishev, the subscription was forged because names and signatures were repeated.
At the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 the country was covered by mass protests and unrest of the citizens! Teachers were also protesting. Clashes between citizens and police broke out in front of the parliament and in other cities of the country. Despite the protests that lasted for months, Stanishev's cabinet never resigned.
The inconsistent management of Stanishev's cabinet and leaked information about corruption in power led to a heavy defeat for Stanishev and the BSP in the 2009 parliamentary elections, and it turned into opposition. Their coalition partner, the NDSV, led by Bulgaria's former tsar and prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, won less than 4% of the votes and failed to get any seats in the National Assembly. Ministers from Boyko Borissov's next cabinet pass on to the prosecutor's office a number of allegations of misuse of state and European funds by ministers from Stanishev's cabinet. Despite the heavy loss of the elections and subsequent party scandals, Stanishev refused to resign and remained at the helm of the BSP.
Cabinet
Original Composition
Changes on December 21, 2006
With the election of
Changes on July 18, 2007
Miglena Tacheva (NDSV) takes over the Ministry of Justice.
Petar Dimitrov (BSP) takes over the Ministry of Economy and Energy.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is reorganized into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply. Its minister, Nihat Kabil, stays on.
Changes on April 24, 2008
The number of Deputy Prime Ministers was increased by one when Meglena Plugchieva (BSP) was assigned to the role. She was also assigned to oversee the funds from the EU. This appointment came after criticisms from the EU about Bulgaria's poor management of EU money.[15]
The Ministry of Disaster Management Policy was reorganized into the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Its minister, Emel Etem Toshkova, remained a deputy Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Supply was reorganized as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. After criticisms for failing to prevent misuse of funds in the Ministry, the new portfolio was taken over by Valeri Tsvetanov (DPS).[15]
Veselin Bliznakov, who was blamed for having failure in modernization reform, was replaced by Nikolai Tsonev (NDSV) as Minister of Defence.[15]
Radoslav Gaidarski, blamed for lagging reforms in the healthcare sector, was replaced by Evgeni Zhelev (BSP) as Minister of Health.[15]
Electoral Defeat and Resignation
The
On 22 July 2009 parliament accepted the resignation of the three party coalition with 209 votes for, 1 against and 26 abstentions.[16]
See also
- History of Bulgaria since 1989
References
- ^ "Opponents Unanimously Boycott Socialists' Draft Govt, Vote Fails". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "Socialists' Mandate Fails For Now, New Vote on Thursday". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "Socialists' Mandate Fails For Now, New Vote on Thursday". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "Opposition Seeks Urgent Meeting with President". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2004.
- ^ "Likely Partners Challenge Simeon". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "Dogan: We Will Not Back King's Party". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ^ "King's Party Officially Reaches out to Socialists to Form Govt". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Diehard Rightists Dump King's Party Coalition Talks". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Bulgaria's Socialists Refuse Centrist Coalition, Commence Third Mandate Talks". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "King's Party Gives up Mandate to Form Bulgaria's Govt". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "CONSTITUTION". National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Sofia Readies for Handing of 3rd Mandate". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Bulgaria Approves Three-Way Govt, Stanishev is PM". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ "Bulgarian interior minister resigns amid corruption scandal". Google News. Google. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Bulgaria reshuffles government amid corruption scandal". Hurriyet Dail yNew. Hürriyet. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ "Bulgaria Parliament Supports Resignation of Stanishev Government". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 11 March 2014.