BULGARIA’S 2016 BUDGET PASSED AT FIRST READING IN PARLIAMENT

On 19th of November, Bulgaria’s Parliament passed at first reading the draft law on state budget for 2016. Out of 212 MPs, 138 voted in favour, 65 voted against and 9 abstained.

The budget was backed by MPs from the parties in the ruling coalition – the centre-right GERB, centre-right “Reformist Bloc”, centre-left “ABC” party, the Patriotic front, as well as well as the opposition Bulgarian Democratic Center (BDC) and three MPs who are not members of parliamentary groups.

The centre-left Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, nationalist Ataka and two MPs who are not members of any parliamentary group voted against.

An MP from BSP, five from the Patriotic front and three from BDC abstained.