Bulgarian government survives no-confidence vote

The Bulgarian parliament rejected on Friday the first no-confidence motion against the year-old centre-right government, which was accused by the opposition of failing to overhaul the ailing health care sector.
The minority cabinet of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov backed by right-wing parties survived the challenge as expected, with 144 lawmakers voting against the motion and 70 in favour.
Analysts said the motion, which had no chance of toppling the government, aimed to raise the profile of the Socialist party after the defeat it suffered at the general election last July.
The vote coincided with rising public discontent over inefficient and underfunded medical services in the Balkan country, which has been hard hit by a prolonged recession.
To defuse tension, Borisov appointed a new health minister on Wednesday, the third one since his cabinet came to power last year, and promised additional funds for hospitals, a move that averted planned doctors' protests for the time being.
Years of post-communist neglect and lack of political will for reforms have left many hospitals understaffed, heavily indebted, lacking contemporary equipment and even medicines.
The cabinet pledged to overhaul the system but hit a snag after doctors protested against planned hospital closures, saying that while reforms were badly needed they feared thousands of people living in remoter regions could be left without access to treatment.