SOFIA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- A newly formed majority fired the speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly Nikola Minchev here on Thursday.
In the 240-seat parliament, Minchev was dismissed with the votes of 125 deputies from GERB-UDF, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), There Is Such A People, and Revival party.
The dismissal was demanded on Wednesday, a few hours after GERB-UDF, the largest opposition force in Bulgaria's parliament, filed a no-confidence motion against the four-party coalition government led by Kiril Petkov, and one week after There Is Such A People declared to exit the ruling coalition.
Minchev, who was elected last December, was formally accused of systematic and gross violation of the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly.
"We all know that the real reason for demanding my dismissal is the same as those behind the no-confidence motion against the government -- there is a new majority in the parliament," Minchev told the legislators.
Mustafa Karadayi, leader of the MRF, admitted that "the debate here is not about Mr. Minchev's personal qualities. The debate is political."
According to Karadayi, Minchev's dismissal was a "natural political move", "and then the other natural political move will take place" -- the dismissal of the government.
According to the rules of the parliament, until a new election is held for a speaker of the National Assembly, it shall be presided over by the vice-speaker, nominated by the largest parliamentary represented party or coalition.
As to the no-confidence motion against the government, it has to be discussed not earlier than three days and not later than seven days after the receipt, and voted not earlier than 24 hours after the closure of the debate. To be passed, the motion must be supported by more than half of all members of the National Assembly.
Petkov's government was elected last December, backed by 134 members of the parliament from Continue the Change, BSP for Bulgaria, There Is Such A People, and Democratic Bulgaria.
However, There Is Such A People declared last week to exit the coalition, so the remaining three parties have a total of 109 deputies. ■