Parliament rejected a non-confidence vote against the Cabinet on February 22 2008, filed by the opposition parties, who argued that the Government did not do enough to eradicate corruption in its ranks. Only 86 members of Parliament (MPs) supported the motion, with 149 voting against and none abstaining.

It was the fourth non-confidence motion tabled against the Government of Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, leader of Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), which is also the senior partner in the three-way ruling coalition. The BSP's coalition partners are National Movement for Stability and Progress and Movement for Rights and Freedoms. All save one MP from the parties in the ruling coalition voted against the motion.

The debate in Parliament on the day before the vote produced little surprise, as no tangible evidence was presented by the opposition to support its claims of corruption in the Government. At the same time with the debate, which lasted eight hours and was held in front of a half-empty plenary hall, the opposition organised a protest rally against the Cabinet outside Parliament.

An estimated 4000 people attended the rally, even though the organisers predicted at least 10 000 would turn up. The rally lasted shorter than projected and had little impact on the debate inside Parliament.

The non-confidence motion was tabled on February 14 by all opposition parties: Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov's party Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (abbreviated as GERB in Bulgarian), the United Democratic Forces Coalition, Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria, Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, Bulgarian People's Union, the Law, Order and Justice Party, New Bulgarian Democracy and ultra nationalist Ataka party.

The next non-confidence motion can be tabled after six months at the earliest. The next regular election for Parliament is scheduled for the summer for 2009.