Sofia, 28 November 1996 (RFE/RL) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Pirinski complained yesterday that Sofia's Socialist government is delaying its approval of the resignation that he offered two weeks ago.
Analysts say that Pirinski, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, appears to be repositioning himself within the divided Socialist Party before next month's Socialist Party Congress. Pirinski's resignation would allow him more freedom to attack Videnov at the congress, which is expected to decide on the government's long-term tenure.
When asked earlier this month if he wanted to succeed Videnov as Prime Minister, Pirinski said he wasn't ruling out any possibilities.
According to Bulgaria's Constitution, the prime minister must introduce a minister's resignation in Parliament. Videnov said Tuesday that he did not see any urgency in the matter and was waiting for a new minister to be named so that he could present it to Parliament at the same time as Pirinski's resignation.