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1st Ld Writethru: Bulgarian parliament approves new cabinet

Xinhua, May 4, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Bulgarian National Assembly on Thursday approved a coalition government of the center-right GERB party and the nationalist United Patriots, with Boyko Borissov as the new prime minister.

The new government, which replaced the caretaker cabinet led by Ognyan Gerdjikov, was backed by 133 legislators of the two political formations and Volya party in the 240-member parliament.

Members of parliament of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and Movement for Rights and Freedoms voted against the government.

Borissov, 58, was prime minister from July 2009 to March 2013, and from November 2014 to January 2017.

Presenting his third cabinet at the plenary hall, Borissov said that improving the quality of life of Bulgarian citizens and the successful development of Bulgaria was its primary mission.

The government would take all measures to ensure security, reduce the number of illegal migrants and protect national borders, he added.

Education, overcoming regional imbalances, and the fight against corruption are other priorities of the government.

Korneliya Ninova, leader of BSP, said in turn that the future of Bulgaria in the EU was a common priority of all parties in parliament.

Tomislav Donchev became deputy prime minister, along with three other vice prime ministers, namely Valeri Simeonov responsible for economic and demographic policy, Krasimir Karakachanov for public order and security, and minister of defense, and Ekaterina Zaharieva for justice reform, who is also minister of foreign affairs.

Sixteen other ministers were also named. Endit