site.btaParliament Extends Nationwide State of Emergency until May 13

Sofia, April 3 (BTA) - At an extraordinary sitting late on Friday, acting on Cabinet's proposal and based on the Constitution, Parliament extended until May 13 the nationwide state of emergency declared in order to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The state of emergency was declared by Parliament on March 13 and was initially set to last until April 13.

A total of 122 MPs voted in favor of the extension, 47 against and seven abstained.

The National Assembly assigned to Cabinet the task of taking all necessary measures to take control of the emergency situation in accordance with the Constitution.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party's (BSP) and the United Patriots' proposals to extend the state of emergency only until April 30 were turned down.

According to the new rules, MPs from BSP, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Volya and independent MPs voted first, followed by their colleagues from the ruling coalition between GERB and the United Patriots. MY