Sofia, June 7 (RFE/RL) - Bulgaria's Socialist-controlled parliament today ousted National Television Director, Ivan Granitski.
The ouster has been pending for more than a month, but appparently was delayed by disagreements within the governing Socialist Party. Bulgaria's official BTA news agency says, however, that today's vote firing Granitski was 113-9, with five members abstaining. National Television Executive Director Ivan Tokadzhiev was named acting director general.
Granitski, himself a Socialist Party member, had been accused of presiding over a network biased in favor of Bulgaria's President Zhelju Zhelev. Zhelev has harshly criticized the government.
Bulgaria has been the scene in recent days of anti-government demonstrations, protesting rising prices and higher taxes. BTA reported yesterday that Prime Minister Zhan Videnov told a group of Socialist leaders that seven government ministers will be leaving his cabinet, including the finance minister and the deputy prime minister. the annoucement of the government shake-up is expected to be made tomorrow, as socialist party leaders meet to choose a candidate in this year's presidential election.