Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov was unaware that his March 5 2010 conversation with President Georgi Purvanov was being recorded by Purvanov's staff, Bulgaria Focus news agency quoted Dyankov as saying on March 11 2010.

On his way out of Parliament, where Dyankov had reported on the Government's policy to tackle the economic crisis, he was asked whether he knew that his meeting with Purvanov was recorded.

"No, I did not know," Focus quoted him as saying. Dyankov refused to comment further on the issue that has triggered an impeachment motion against Purvanov by ruling party GERB.

According to GERB, Purvanov had recorded the meeting illegally without informing Dyankov, in contravention of the constitution.

Purvanov had also published the transcript of the meeting online without informing Dyankov, GERB said. Vice President Angel Marin, however, said that Dyankov had met Purvanov in his public capacity as Minister of Finance. According to Marin, all meetings held at the Presidency were recorded and the conversation with Dyankov was no exception.

On March 12 2010, Purvanov will hold a special news conference on the issue. Purvanov's office has already described GERB's anger as "surprising".

Dyankov met Purvanov, the latter accompanied by two aides, at the President’s office on March 5 after a row erupted between Purvanov and the Finance Minister over remarks made by the latter on a March 1 television talk show.

After the March 5 meeting, Purvanov posted a transcript of the meeting on the presidential website. Borissov responded that he had been "stabbed in the back" by Purvanov.

Borissov said he had personally telephoned Purvanov to ask him to receive Dyankov. Borissov subsequently issued a challenge to Purvanov that they should both resign their offices, as Prime Minister and President, respectively, and fight an election.