Bulgarian finance minister hints at wider reshuffle after three ministers resign

Bulgarian finance minister hints at wider reshuffle after three ministers resign
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov could replace more ministers at any time, said Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov (pictured).
By bne IntelliNews September 11, 2018

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov could replace more ministers at any time, Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov said on September 12 in an interview with Nova TV.

A day earlier, after a week of tensions the ruling coalition reached a compromise that the government will propose to parliament to accept the resignations of three ministers that were told to stand down by Borissov.

“A change in the government could happen in every single day when the prime minister decides [it is necessary] and the circumstances demand it. Nobody is safe except the prime minister,” Goranov said.

However, he also noted that Borissov’s decision to replace the three ministers has created a sense of insecurity in the country.

“The [number of] quality persons is not unlimited, there is a sense that anyone can be easily dispensed with,” Goranov said, but added that in the specific situation Borissov’s actions were appropriate.

At the end of August, Borissov demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Valentin Radev, Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski and Regional Development Minister Nikolay Nankov over their political responsibility for a bus crash that killed 17 people and left many more wounded as there are suspicions that the deadly accident could have been caused by defects in the road construction.

Borissov’s move angered Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov who said that his party, the far-right National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria (NFSB), strongly objects to Borissov’s move as it was not coordinated with his coalition partners.

Simeonov threatened to leave the ruling coalition, causing serious destabilisation. However, he eventually backed off and decided to support Borissov.

According to Goranov, the conflict between coalition partners was due to the lack of proper communication.

Related Articles

bne IntelliNews Southeast Europe Outlook 2024

This Southeast Europe Outlook 2024 has been prepared by bne IntelliNews as part of a series of annual reviews providing updates on the geopolitical, macroeconomic and commercial state of ... more

EBRD 2023: EBRD, EU and ILX to co-operate to boost private-sector finance in Emerging Europe

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union, and ILX Management, an emerging market asset manager, have joined forces to enhance private-sector finance in Emerging ... more

EU ban on Russian LNG could backfire

Momentum is building behind calls for the EU to impose a ban on Russian LNG, even though doing so could make it harder for the bloc to stock up on gas supplies before next winter. The EU has ... more

Dismiss