The opposition parties of GERB, MRF, "Vazrazhdane" and ITN managed to overthrow the government of Kiril Petkov with the first successful vote of no confidence in Bulgaria's recent history. 123 MPs voted against the cabinet, 116 were in favor of it and none of the present abstained.

"It was an honor for me to lead a government that was overthrown by Delyan Peevski, Boyko Borisov, Slavi Trifonov and Eleonora Mitrofanova," Kiril Petkov said after the vote. He added that during the six months in power he wanted to fight the corruption model and defend Bulgarian interests, not foreign ones. "I think that Vazrazhdane made it possible for the Russian interests to creep in," Kiril Petkov pointed out. The no-confidence vote against the government was submitted by GERB-SDS.

"Sooner or later I expected that there would be a clash with the mafia and it happened during the budget voting procedure," Deputy Prime Minister Assen Vassilev said. The former minister has already predicted elections in September.

"One thing is said in Brussels, another in Bulgaria, and a third when they meet with our neighbors – North Macedonia and Albania," MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said. That is why, according to him, his party has submitted to parliament a proposal for the European future of North Macedonia.

"MPs are not prostitutes that can be bought, as Kiril Petkov did," chairman of the parliamentary group of "There is Such a People" (ITN), Toshko Yordanov said after the vote.

"This parliament has brought only shame and disgrace to Bulgarian democracy. The sooner it is sent into history, the better for Bulgaria," Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said.

"It was the new majority formed between ITN, MRF and Vazrazhdane, between Delyan Peevski and Kostadin Kostadinov, who were together at the protest, that managed to bring down a government that was leading Bulgaria to betterfuture," Georgi Svilenski of the Bulgarian Socialist Party said.

"No future actions should be forecast by this vote," GERB Deputy Chairman Daniel Mitov said. Speaking about Kiril Petkov's statement that the fall of the cabinet was a result of intervention by the Russian ambassador, he said: "Kiril Petkov is looking for an alibi, he has started a campaign."

The vote came amid several simultaneous protests near the National Assembly. The parliament in Sofia is besieged by supporters and opponents of Kiril Petkov's cabinet. There is an increased police presence in order to avoid clashes between protesters in the area. There have been no reports of disturbance of the order, so far.

According to the Constitution, the President is entitled to three attempts to nominate a cabinet in the current parliament. The first and second mandates go to the first and second political forces, while the third mandate is decided by the head of state. However, there is no specific deadline for the first mandate to be given. If all three attempts failed, the Bulgarian President must dissolve the National Assembly, appoint a caretaker cabinet and set a date for early elections.

123 votes bring down government of Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov