For nearly six hours now, Parliament has been debating a no-confidence motion against the government submitted by the opposition over what they see as corruption the administration of infrastructure, including the energy industry, transport and regional development, as well as in health care and the Interior Ministry, BTA reports.

This is the fourth no-confidence motion against the government of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Simeon II National Movement (SNM) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) ever since it took office in the summer of 2005.

The no-confidence motion was submitted on February 14 by 80 opposition MPs. It is due to be voted 24 hours or more after the debate, which is Friday afternoon at the earliest. The debate is broadcast live by the Bulgarian National Television and the National Radio.

In the meantime, some 10,000 people from across the country are protesting outside the Parliament building in central Sofia and chanting for the government's resignation. The protest rally is a joint venture of all opposition forces. Most of the participants are supporters of the extraparliamentary but influential GERB party and Ataka. Banners of IMRO, the Order, Law and Justice Party and New Time can also be seen in the crowd.