Reactions in Parliament after cabinet reshuffle

The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) described the cabinet changes as an imitation and an attempt by the prime minister to survive at all costs. Businessman Mareshki’s Volya party finds the changes insufficient because they expected a wider expert cabinet.

The opposition BSP believes that the change of 4 ministers is not a change and that the model of governance remains the same.

"It is not a huge overhaul, as the PM earlier said, but an imitation. We have seen this film 12 times. Ministers have been changed 12 times in this cabinet, but everything continues as before. The result of the Prime Minister's actions today is that the agony continues," commented BSP leader Korneliya Ninova.

They believe that the government did not hear the voice of the protesters who demanded the resignation of the prime minister, and he saved himself.

"The goal of today's actions of the prime minister is to survive at all costs regardless of the consequences for the state. Our position remains unchanged: Borissov's resignation and the resignation of the whole cabinet, and early elections," Ninova added.

She finds the motives for the removal of the ministers confused, and the appointment of a deputy prime minister from NFSB party as a deal with Valeri Simeonov to remain in power. (NFSB is a constituent party in the United Patriot alliance, which is a minority partner in the governing coalition).

Volya party say they are surprised, and the changes are insufficient.

"We expected a much broader expert cabinet with much greater and broader public and political support. With this act of the government, they are clearly showing that they are self-sufficient," commented Krastina Taskova.

Mareshki's party expects a serious anti-crisis programme from the cabinet.

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Prime Minister Bpyko Borissov announced changes to his cabinet on July 23.

On July 15, he demanded the resignations of Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov, Interior Minister Mladen Marinov and Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov. Today he announced that Nikolina Angelkova resigned as Tourism Minister.

Current Health Minister Kiril Ananiev is nominated for Minister of Finance .

The head of the national police,Hristo Terziyski, is to be the Interior Minister.

Professor Kostadin Angelov, the head of Alexandrovska Hospital in Sofia is nominated to become Minister of Health.

Mariana Nikolova will take over the tourism portfolio. She will also be Deputy PM.

Deputy Minister of the Economy Luchezar Borissov will succeed Karanikolov as Minister of the Economy.