Bulgaria’s government survives no-confidence vote brought by pro-Russia party

Bulgaria’s government has survived a parliamentary vote of no-confidence brought by a pro-Russia opposition party over a supposed failure in the country’s foreign policy.

The motion brought by the Vazrazhdane party and backed by two small nationalist groups criticised the government’s pro-Western stance, its support for Ukraine and ongoing sanctions on Moscow.

The move was defeated in the 240-seat parliament with 150 votes against and 54 in favour.

Before the vote, analysts predicted the outcome, citing that the majority of Buglaria’s lawmakers support the country’s pro-European orientation.

Bulgaria has been a member of the EU since 2007.

“For Vazrazhdane, the vote is a tool to amplify Russian narratives in the hybrid war against Bulgaria — a war Moscow wages with disinformation and subversive political tactics,” political analyst Ilian Vassilev said.

The centre-right party GERB, which leads the coalition government, condemned the no-confidence motion as an attempt to derail the adoption of the euro at the beginning of 2026, which would consolidate Bulgaria’s European integration.

Speaking to the media after the vote, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the motion’s defeat has “confirmed Bulgaria’s European perspective and democratic development, which is what most of the Bulgarian people want”.