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M. Continuo

Bulgaria ruling party leader calls for July election


    SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria should hold a snap election as early as July, the head of the ruling Socialist party said on Tuesday, bringing the government's demise one step closer following its poor performance in European Parliament elections in May.

    The Socialists have bowed to pressure both from their own coalition partner and the main opposition GERB party to hold an early poll, which would mark the second government collapse in two years in the European Union's poorest member state.

    "Political instability is the biggest danger. Bulgaria does not need a government that is on life support," Socialist leader Sergei Stanishev said. "If there is enough political will, early elections in July, by the end of July, are a possible and realistic option."

    (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Writing by Matthias Williams; editing by John Stonestreet)