Parliamentary Entities Read Declarations at 51st Parliament's Inaugural Sitting

Nikolay Zabov

51st National Assembly's inaugural sitting, Sofia, November 11, 2024 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

11.11.2024 13:53

(BTA)

Seven out of eight parliamentary entities in Bulgaria's 51st National Assembly read declarations from the parliamentary rostrum during parliament's inaugural sitting here on Monday. The lawmakers outlined some of the problems that impact the country and suggested ways to resolve them.

GERB-UDF's MP Toma Bikov stated that the last election results suggest that GERB-UDF is the only political entity whose presence is crucial to have a government formed. He reported that GERB-UDF's goal is to form a coalition government comprised of prominent political figures that will run a full 4-year term. To achieve that goal, the largest political entity is ready to seek support and make the necessary compromises.

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) MP Nikolay Denkov said that his coalition will strive to establish a "cordon sanitaire" (sanitary cordon) around MRF - New Beginning and their leader Delyan Peevski. The goal is to limit MRF - New Beginning's participation in the formation of majorities in the election of governing bodies of the National Assembly and of bodies whose members are elected by the National Assembly.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov was adamant that no stable or long-lasting government would be possible with his party's participation. The four possible scenarios he outlined were:

a government formed by GERB, the MRF and other entities such as CC-DB
a government formed by GERB, CC-DB and other pro-Euro-Atlantic groups but excluding the MRF
a government with GERB and the MRF in the minority
new parliamentary elections in the spring of 2025.

MRF - New Beginning, the fourth largest parliamentary party, chose to have no representative of theirs to speak from the rostrum. Peevski and the rest of the MPs left the building and joined a protest in front of the building instead.

BSP - United Left Chair Atanas Zafirov called on the political forces to give up their party egoism. He proposed three steps to avoid new snap elections in 2025: tackling corruption, not interfering with the judicial branch and not involving Ukraine in political games.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Dzhevdet Chakarov stated that the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF) will not endorse a government compiled with the overt or covert support of the MRF - New Beginning coalition. He acknowledged that Bulgaria is in urgent need of a regular government and added that the ARF are pessimistic about the chances of having one formed by the 51st National Assembly. The ARF is ready to participate in cabinet talks. Chakarov blamed the economic instability and the withdrawal of foreign investors on the lack of political stability.

There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Stanislav Balabanov said that the country is in a severe political, financial and social crisis, with most of the national institutions being in collapse. He reported that TISP is ready to table amendments to the Electoral Code in order to eliminate electoral fraud involving tombstone voting.

Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh) leader Radostin Vasilev called for complete annulment of the October 27 parliamentary elections. He labelled the elections flawed due to the alleged unprecedented vote buying that took place. He argued that the State has patronized manipulating the voting process and has become "complicit in this farce".

The parliamentary sitting began with the attending 234 MPs (out of 240) being sworn in.

/NZ/