Bulgaria's government, led by ex-King Simeon Saxe-Coburg, survived a no-confidence motion on Friday, but analysts said the vote had hurt his party ahead of the European Union-aspirant state's summer elections. The former monarch hailed the defeat of the ouster bid, which was launched by opposition parties for what they said was a failure to boost Bulgaria's low living standards and other shortcomings in domestic policy. "This result is good for Bulgaria and society because it guarantees stability and security in the country," Saxe-Coburg told a news briefing after the motion failed. Of 236 deputies present during the ballot, 128 voted for the centrist cabinet, and 106 against. The opposition needed 121 deputies' support for the no-confidence vote to succeed. The result was expected after Saxe-Coburg's two-party coalition, which ruled from a minority until this week, signed a power-sharing deal with a small splinter party to command 131 of the house's 240 seats. --More 2343 Local Time 2043 GMT
