The uproar caused by Boiko Borissov naming historian and former communist security service collaborator Bozhidar Dimitrov as one of his ministers brought a chilling in relations between Borissov and the centre-right Blue Coalition – but not too cold to stand in the way of the Union of Democratic Forces, a major constituent of the Blue Coalition, voting to back Borissov’s cabinet.
 
After Borissov named Dimitrov, the Blue Coalition said that it wanted the July 27 2009 vote in Parliament to go minister by minister rather than as an omnibus vote, because the Blue Coalition specifically wanted to reject Dimitrov.
 
But on July 25, the UDF – led by Martin Dimitrov, who has been vocal in slamming his near-namesake Bozhidar – said that it had decided to vote in favour of the Borissov cabinet. With Ivan Kostov's Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, the UDF is one of the two predominant constituent parties of the Blue Coalition.
 
The UDF believed that there was a need to express confidence in the Borissov government because Bulgaria urgently needed anti-crisis measures, an updated Budget and restored EU confidence in the country, UDF deputy leader Vulcho Cholakov was quoted as saying by Bulgarian news agency BTA.
 
The announcement of Bozhidar Dimitrov on July 23 as minister without portfolio, with special responsibility for Bulgarians abroad, caused a media and political furore.
 
One of the consequences was a statement on July 24 by Borissov that he would ask Parliament urgently to approve complete declassification of the communist-era secret police files.
 
This should be done so that anyone could go and read the files, Borissov said.
 
Borissov has defended his appointment of Bozhidar Dimitrov, saying that he had been aware of Dimitrov – who will quit as director of the National History Museum to become a minister – having been a communist-era collaborator.
 
The people of the Black Sea city of Bourgas had elected Dimitrov, who was born in the southern coastal village of Sozopol, and that was a vote of confidence, Borissov said.
Borissov said on July 24 that he hoped that the Blue Coalition would cease their attacks, which he described as unfortunate, on Bozhidar Dimitrov.
 
As mayor of Sofia, he was used to the Blue Coalition and their "tricks", Borissov said.
 
On July 29, Sofia deputy mayor Minko Gerdjikov will stand in as the capital city’s first citizen pending a by-election in October to choose a successor to serve out the remainder of Borissov’s term. Dnevnik said that Gerdjikov also had been a collaborator.
 
Borissov’s party, GERB, has not yet said who its candidate will be in the Sofia mayoral elections in October 2009.