May 30, 2014 - 13:33 AMT
Bulgaria's left-leaning govt. survives fourth no-confidence vote

Bulgaria's left-leaning government survived Friday, May 30, its fourth no-confidence vote called for by the opposition over its energy policies, the Associated Press reports.

Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski's coalition government won the vote by 116-93, relying once again on lawmakers from the Socialist Party and from the mainly Turkish MRF party.

The latest motion accused the government, which started its four-year term last May, of failed policies in the energy sector in the European Union's poorest country.

Despite the outcome of the vote, the oppositional center-right GERB party said it will increase pressure on the government to step down, especially after the former ruling party won the most votes for seats in the European elections. The GERB party won 30.4 percent of the vote on Sunday, while the Socialists trailed behind with 18.9 percent.