No-confidence vote in Bulgaria's government could hamper EU expansion

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, a Harvard-educated businessman, formed a four-party coalition government in December

A pro-government protester holds a Bulgarian flag. Picture: Valentina Petrova/AP

Politicians in Bulgaria have approved a no-confidence motion against the country’s coalition government that could topple the prime minister and stall efforts by Balkan countries to join the European Union.

The centre-right opposition party GERB filed the motion last week, accusing the government of mishandling public finances and economic policy and failing to tackle rising inflation.