Bulgarian Opposition Party Boycotts Parliament

Trying to illustrate the governing coalition can't govern

(Reuters)—Bulgaria's opposition GERB party boycotted parliament for a third day on Friday, blocking the work of the assembly because the ruling Socialists do not command the majority needed to open sessions.

The boycott, intended to demonstrate what GERB said was the ruling coalition's inability to govern, meant the opposition effectively blocked its own no-confidence motion against the government which was scheduled for Friday.

The standoff underlines a deepening political crisis which has deterred much-needed investment in the poorest EU country where the struggling economy is forecast to grow by 0.6 percent this year, compared with 0.8 percent in 2012.