For the first time since he came to office in 2001 President Georgi Purvanov is under fire from the ruling majority in Parliament with talk of his impeachment dominating the media for a week.  

The impeachment issue was raised by the right-wing the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party and the ultra-nationalist Ataka party, each for separate reasons. According to the DSB, Purvanov should face impeachment over alleged ties between Iraq’s former leader Saddam Hussein and the Bulgaria Socialist Party (BSP) and an alleged abuse of the UN’s Oil-for-food programme dating from the time when Purvanov was BSP leader.

Ataka, on the other hand, claimed that Purvanov had failed to inform Parliament on a regular basis about his policy as the constitution requires. This was not the first time the two parties have sought Purvanov’s dismissal but he always enjoyed the solid support of the previous two governments.

With the rise of Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov to power at the July 2009 elections, the situation has changed. The three parties who ruled the country over the past four years, with Purvanov’s blessing, are now consigned to opposition. The first sensitive moment in the relationship between Purvanov and Borissov came in September when Borissov met Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin to discuss common energy projects.

After the meeting, Purvanov said that Borissov was "obviously unprepared" and lacking in competence. Borissov reacted by conceding that his relationship with Purvanov had been strained but this in no way undermined state institutions. This was a continuation of Borissov’s policy over the last four years when he tried to refrain from open and direct confrontation with Purvanov.

When, however, on November 8 Purvanov indirectly but very openly criticised the Government for its lack of priorities and success in the fight against organised crime, Borissov changed his tone and said he was ready to consider DSB’s and Ataka’s request to launch an impeachment procedure against Purvanov. "I don’t see how we cannot support our partners in this matter given that we will need their support for adopting the 2010 draft Budget," news agencies quoted Borissov as saying on November 10.

"Personally, I would not want such a crisis, but, frankly, my partners’ support is more important to me than Purvanov," he said. The only way out of the situation was for Purvanov to publicly apologise for his actions. "Purvanov knows very well how hated he is by the other parties and now he puts me in a delicate situation," Borissov said.