Parliament will hold a vote of no confidence against the tripartite coalition Government, led by Sergei Stanishev, at 4.10pm on July 30 2008. This is the sixth vote of no confidence to be tabled by the opposition against the Cabinet, which was formed in 2005 with a four-year term.

The motion was filed by 86 MPs from the opposition on July 23 after the European Commission froze close to 800 million euro in aid funding to Bulgaria over doubts of the country's ability to cope with corruption in managing European Union funds. The opposition claimed that the Government's actions had caused Bulgaria enormous damages and asked for early elections.

Debates on the no confidence vote lasted for seven hours on July 29, with all Cabinet ministers present in Parliament. Stanishev, who is also leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, did not say a word to the MPs, leaving the battle to his ministers. Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said that there was no proof that EU funds had been embezzled.

The ruling majority of 150 MPs in the 240-seated Parliament means that, most likely, the Cabinet will survive the vote of no confidence yet again.

In the meantime, ultra-nationalist Ataka party decided to stage an ongoing protest in front of the Presidency. The protest camp will exist until the Government falls, Ataka leader Volen Siderov said.

If nothing else, Ataka's move managed to add to the confusion of Sofia's motorists, because the street passing between the Presidency and the Archaeological Museum had to be closed on July 29, the first day of Ataka's protests.

This simply meant just another obstacle for Sofians this summer, when major roads around the city are under repair, causing additional traffic jams.