Government survives no-confidence vote

Government survives no-confidence vote
Wed Feb 13, 5:14 AM ET

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Bulgaria's government survived a no-confidence vote called by the opposition on Wednesday to protest a new tax on medicine has threatened the welfare of the poor.

Parliament voted 134-50 to support the government's health care policy. There were 45 abstentions.

The government of Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski defended the value-added tax, saying that it complies with European Union standards.

The decision is part of government plans aimed at reforming the economy, fighting corruption and boosting budget revenues.

Saxcoburggotski, the country's former king, returned last year to his home country after five decades in exile and won a sweeping victory in June's parliamentary elections.

But the hopes of many Bulgarians for a quick economic recovery and for improving living standards are gradually fading away.

According to a recent poll, only 38.8 percent of Bulgarians approved of the way the government was operating, while 61.2 percent were opposed.

The survey was conducted last week by the National Public Opinion Center among 816 adults across the country. No margin of error was provided, but polls of this type in Bulgaria usually have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.