site.btaSocialist Leader Zafirov Says Parliament Chair Kiselova Fulfilled Her Duties by Dissolving MECh’s Parliamentary Group

Natalia Kiselova is simply fulfilling her duties as Chairperson of the National Assembly – adhering to the parliamentary rules of procedure. Legality, order, and stability cannot be subject to bargaining, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of BSP – United Left Atanas Zafirov told bTV here on Saturday, as quoted by BSP – United Left’s press centre. Zafirov was commenting the dissolution of Morality, Unity, Honour’s (MECh) Parliamentary Group.

After the conclusion of a 22-hour parliamentary session, Parliament’s Chair announced that the MECh Parliamentary Group was disbanded. According to the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the minimum number of MPs required to form a parliamentary group is ten. Currently, there are only nine MPs from MECh after the National Assembly terminated the mandate of MECh MP Samuil Slavov on Wednesday following his resignation.

On Thursday, the Central Election Commission announced that Plamen Angelov Petkov, nominated by the MECh party, would take a seat in the 51st National Assembly. However, he has not yet been sworn in as an MP.

Political Reactions

Kiselova's announcement regarding the group's dissolution triggered a reaction from MECh leader Radostin Vasilev. Speaking to journalists on Friday, he warned that if his party’s Parliamentary Group is not in place by Wednesday, they will begin blockades. MECh is also demanding Kiselova’s and the Government’s resignations.

According to Zafirov, Kiselova's decision was entirely lawful. He emphasized that she had warned MECh three times about the violations, and after their lack of response, she took the only possible legal action.

"We will not allow a group of loud MPs, behaving like outright thugs, to destroy parliamentary democracy," Zafirov stated.

He also pointed out that the group's formal dissolution was triggered by the resignation of one of its MPs. He argued that this situation put the group in objective violation of the rules and could have been avoided.

"In my opinion, one of those who left should not have done so in such haste. The real question is: What prompted this sudden departure?" Zafirov asked. He added that had the resignation not been submitted, the group would have remained legitimate.

"It is a fact that if this MP had not left the parliamentary group, it would have retained its status. Since they violated the rules – they no longer have a group. The Parliamentary matter is closed. Simple and clear. And legal," he concluded.

On the Parliamentary Majority and the State Budget

Zafirov described the current "fragile majority" not as a problem but as a reality stemming from the will of the voters. According to him, in a time of regional, European, and global crises, the responsibility of political forces is to strengthen rather than destroy stability.

"We have been operating under this fragility for a long time. Now it depends on the parties – will we break it, or will we try to maintain it?" Zafirov said, calling for political maturity in parliament. He also noted that seeking support for good policies is neither new nor a compromise when it serves the national interest.

Regarding the adoption of the state budget, Zafirov stated that it was "the only possible budget." He described it as a financial plan with a strong social focus, aimed at protecting people in a challenging economic environment.

He highlighted several key measures included in the budget, such as free medication for all children up to the age of 7, additional BGN 30 million for psychiatric care, BGN 30 million for sports, significant investments in the water and sewage sector, increased financial support for municipalities.