site.btaUPDATED Parliament to Hold Inaugural Sitting

Bulgaria’s 51st National Assembly will hold its inaugural sitting on Monday.

Eight parties and coalitions entered Parliament after the October 27 snap elections: GERB-UDF (69 seats), Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) (37 seats), Vazrazhdane (35 seats), Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning (30 seats), BSP-United Left (20 seats), Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (19 seats), There Is Such a People (TISP) (18 seats), MECh (Morality, Unity, Honour) (12 seats).

As required by the Constitution, the sitting will be opened by the oldest MP, Silvi Kirilov of TISP. The Members of Parliament will be sworn in, and the parties and coalitions will state their priorities.

The election of a chairperson and deputy chairpersons is also on the agenda. Some of the parliamentary forces announced their nominees to the post.

GERB-UDF will back again Raya Nazaryan, who is Chair of the 50th National Assembly. GERB leader Boyko Borissov said on Friday the party is adamant that Nazaryan must be elected. She was elected Chairperson of the present Parliament on the second day of its inaugural sitting.

CC-DB said on the weekend they had not decided if they would have a nominee. CC co-leader Kiril Petkov said that the party's National Council "has mandated the leaders not to enter discussions on the chairmanship of the National Assembly or any further talks unless there is support for a 'sanitary cordon' around Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski".

Vazrazhdane named Petar Petrov for Parliament leader.

BSP-United Left nominated Natalia Kiselova.

Seven protest rallies are planned in Sofia for Monday, some of which will be taking place close to the Parliament building.