Bulgaria’s Parliament holds first sitting after summer break, MPs met by protesters

The MPs held the first sitting after the summer recess. The autumn session of the Parliament was opened on September 2 at the background of protests demanding the resignation of the government and the Chief Prosecutor as the organisers of the protest called upon demonstrators to gather in front of the new National Assembly building in Sofia.

The chairperson of GERB's parliamentary group, Daniela Daritkova, said that the Constitution clearly states that all power comes from the people and no person can appropriate the sovereignty. She accused the President of aiming for division, while GERB has chosen to build Bulgaria. We have to walk the road to convening a Grand National Assembly, said Daritkova. Changes should be made in synchrony to meet the challenges facing society. The Grand National Assembly will be convened after elections and will be widely represented.

The leader of the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Kornelia Ninova said that Bulgaria is in a severe political, institutional and socio-economic crisis. The prime minister wants to survive at all costs, said Ninova, and blamed GERB for the current situation. GERB and Borissov are in total isolation, Ninova said. According to her, the BSP is a guarantor of a democratic and legal state. The BSP for Bulgaria will not provide a single signature for the proposed "replacement" (referring to the proposed draft for changes to the Constitution). She cited machine voting as a priority for this Parliament, before the final resignation of those in power.

On behalf of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) party, its chairman Mustafa Karadayi said "we were witnessing the collapse of the state". He said the party remains accountable to Bulgaria. The MRF is in favour of urgent solutions in the name of peace and stability, Karadayi said. Mr. Radev chose the political opposition, attacked the National Assembly, tried to oppose judges against prosecutors. This leads to the erosion of the authorities, and to erosion of the institution of the President. Various people are taking part in the protests, there is an awakening of the civil society, said the MRF leader. The country needs a clear budget, as well as a program for effective absorption of Covid-19 funds, as well as those of the EC's multiannual financial framework. Karaday called for the resignation of the government and the resignation of Rumen Radev. He also said that an expert anti-crisis cabinet should be formed to organise fair elections.

Boris Yachev of the United Patriots (GERB’s partner in the coalition government) said that thanks to adequate government measures, the health care system has been restructured, making the country one of the most protected against COVID-19. He reported the reduction of VAT, the use of tourist services by people on the front line battling Covid-19. He also reported the granting of supplements to the pensions in the amount of BGN 50 per month, the subsidies for charter flights. He said that the government will continue to fulfil its commitments.

Kristina Taskova of Volya party said that the party was the only one left unsullied in this term. This session does not start well, there are protests, counter-protests, and no one gives a formula for change. She called for an end to the experiments on the backs of the Bulgarian people.

We do not aim to provoke a technical conversation, but a national one, which should end with maximum consent, we do not aim for dividing lines in the society yet, said the chair of GERB’s parliamentary group.

Image by Dessislava Kulelieva

Before that, GERB's PG left the plenary hall at the moment when President Rumen Radev came out to address the MPs and the people.

At 9:05 a.m., National Assembly Speaker Tsveta Karayancheva opened the sitting.

In her speech, she said that the National Assembly has a new home, the relocation was difficult. It was a sad parting with the historic parliament building. The current building is anything but modest, offering more work space. With the repairs it is more functional. Karayancheva said the old coat of arms on the building would be removed.

Karayancheva called for a language of understanding, otherwise the language of hatred will be spread among the people, which could be disastrous.

Today it will become clear whether the ruling GERB party will be able to collect the necessary 120 signatures to submit a proposal to convene a Grand National Assembly and draft a new Constitution.

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