July 23 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's prime minister Boyko Borissov said on Thursday that he will replace five key cabinet ministers - of the interior, economy, finance, tourism and health.
The government reshuffle comes amid a wave of anti-corruption protests seeking an overhaul of the judiciary and the resignation of chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev and the cabinet.
Hristo Terziiski, the incumbent head of the general directorate of the national police, will take over as interior minister. Economy minister Emil Karanikolov will be replaced by his deputy Lachezar Borisov and Kostadin Angelov will be appointed health minister, Borissov told a news conference broadcast live by Bulgarian National Television.he added.
"Interior Minister Mladen Marinov, we are changing him because I am convinced from what I know that some of the actions of the police during the rallies definitely do not correspond to my understanding of how protesting people should be treated," Borissov said.
Health minister Kiril Ananiev will replace Goranov as finance minister, while deputy tourism minister Mariyana Nikolova will succeed Nikolina Angelkova to the post, he added.
"Goranov undoubtedly achieved a lot, but I would not be able to answer the question why control over the gambling commission was loose for five years. There are issues for which they must bear all the political consequences. Karanikolov is doing very well in many areas but I am hearing things about how bonuses or grants are being distributed in the economy ministry. I want control there to be extremely strict," he added.
"Moving the chairs on deck the Titanic. This is the 'profound change' offered today," Hristo Ivanov, leader of the opposition Yes, Bulgaria! political party and former justice minister, said in a Facebook post commenting on the cabinet reshuffle.
On Tuesday, Bulgaria's ruling coalition comprising GERB and the nationalist alliance United Patriots survived a no-confidence vote over corruption filed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). The motion was rejected in a 124-to-102 vote, as eleven members of parliament abstained from voting.
"We believe [the government reshuffle] is an imitation of a change. Ministers are replaced, but the mafia model of government remains. A total of 12 ministers have been changed in this government so far, but everything remains as it was," BSP leader Korneliya Ninova said in a news conference broadcast live on the Facebook channel of broadcaster BSTV, owned by the Socialist Party.