site.btaParliament on Break in Run-up to Presidential Vote

Parliament on Break in Run-up to Presidential Vote

Sofia, October 12 (BTA) - Parliament will take a break with immediate effect in the run-up to the November 6 presidential elections. The next sitting is scheduled for November 9.

The MPs adopted the proposal for the break made by Ataka on the grounds that it would be inappropriate to campaign for the elections on public funds. The ruling GERB party forced a revote but the outcome was the same.

MPs from GERB and other parliamentary groups had earlier proposed to suspend work only between October 26 and November 4.

The majority voted to bar all MPs from using their official cars during the break, except on days when there is a meeting of a parliamentary committee.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party opposed the temporary suspension of work for two weeks before the presidential elections on the grounds this would mess up Parliament's law-making agenda which features a debate on the 2017 budget alongside a number of taxation bills.