First sitting of Bulgaria’s newly-elected 48th Parliament

The first sitting of the 48th National Assembly was opened with a solemn ceremony on October 19.

The 48th National Assembly was elected at early elections on October 2, 2022.

Seven coalitions and parties are represented in the new 240-seat Parliament.

• GERB-UDF with 67 seats
• We Continue the Change with 53 seats
• Movement for Rights and Freedoms with 36 seats
• Vazrazhdane with 27 seats
• BSP for Bulgaria with 25 seats
• Democratic Bulgaria with 20 seats, and
• Bulgaria Ascending with 12 seats

The 240 MPs took an oath to uphold the Constitution and to be guided by the interests of the people.

According to the Constitution, the new Parliament's first sitting was opened by the oldest attending MP, who is Vezhdi Rashidov of GERB.

Addressing the MPs, Rashidov called for humbleness and reason. " We are still wondering how, why, where, we plunged into opprobrium and incantations, we flooded everything with insults and caused suffering, so please, colleagues - think. Aggression begets aggression and denial begets denial of denial. How long can this go on,” he asked. ”Often we lose our direction, confused in arguments we sink deeper and deeper into the familiar anti-utopia. So please, colleagues - think! In the days when we face each other, let us remember that everyone has dignity, loved ones, and behind each of us there are thousands of people. Let us fight, but let us not insult each other, let us not destroy each other,“ Rashidov urged.

I ask you for humility, reason, let this time be better. Good luck and may God protect Bulgaria," he said.

President Rumen Radev addressed the MPs from the rostrum. He commented that every beginning is charged with hope. He expressed hope that the 48th National Assembly would lead the country out of the spiral of political instability. He stressed that the MPs have several important tasks ahead of them - the budget for the next year, the fight against poverty, high prices, increasing crime, and the measures should be decisive and immediate. He added that the caretaker cabinet is ready with its own draft budget if needed.

On behalf of the parliamentary group of GERB-UDF, Desislava Atanasova called for unity and peace. We will strive for there to be harmony and peace in the country, Atanasova said.

She defined the situation as critical. People do not want to pay the price of political bickering, they have forced all of us to work together and they do not want any party to fo form a government by itself, she added.

On behalf of "We Continue the Change" Kiril Petkov said that before the elections everyone had given their word to solve the people's problems, each party through its programme, visions and possibilities. WCC will be a constructive and predictable opposition, guided by 2 principles - to justify the trust of the voters and to work to solve the real problems of all Bulgarians. They will insist that taxes will not be raised and will work for a cap on electricity and gas prices.

MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi said that the people had assumed dialogue, agreement, unification and union. However, it has been seen that lessons have not been learnt. The voters elected us to solve their problems, it is irresponsible to declare oneself as opposition. The MRF is ready for dialogue in the name of the citizens, over the years we have proved we are capable of that, Karadayi said. He called on the parties to sit at the negotiating table.

Kostadin Kostadinov of "Vazrazhdane" said Bulgaria is disappearing at the rate of 214 people a day, a devastating war is being fought near us and inflation is eating away at the shaky foundations of the Bulgarian economy. Against this backdrop, all week the new MPs have been dealing with the issue of whether the Russian ambassador should attend the first sitting of the National Assembly. Bulgaria needs new leaders, we are here to rebuild Bulgaria and to show that politics should not be a fight for positions, but for ideals," Kostadinov said. In his words, the country has no more time to waste.

BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said that the institutions should give an answer whether they can cope with the crises and give security and prosperity to the Bulgarian people. We can, if each authority takes its responsibility and in interaction and not in fight with each other, we will be able to move in the same direction, Ninova said. She stressed that the order of priorities for Bulgaria is important and put focus on the welfare of the Bulgarian people, financial stability, fighting corruption and guaranteeing peace for the Bulgarian people.

Hristo Ivanov of Democratic Bulgaria emphasised the sharp confrontation on the international stage. We cannot close our eyes to this war and the new era that is beginning, he said. He urged Bulgaria to have an active membership in the EU and NATO, to look after our own interest in them and to be responsible members in these alliances. Another fundamental crisis - the political one, after another wave of mass protests, Bulgaria cannot form a lasting government for months, it is highly probably we may go to another election, Hristo Ivanov said.

On behalf of "Bulgaria Ascending" Stefan Yanev said that the Bulgarian people are waiting for decisions on the cost of living, income, the future of the children of Bulgaria. They will focus on three main issues - security, justice and solidarity. In our society, there are 10-15 personalities who divide us, we will work for an audit of these people, Yanev said. Whoever works in the interest of civil society is welcome in the boat of "Bulgaria Ascending", together we can sail against the wind, he added.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva