First sitting of Bulgaria’s Parliament after summer recess

The new session of Bulgaria’s Parliament was opened on 4^th of September to the sound of the national and the European Union anthems.

The leaders of parliamentary groups are expected to outline the priorities for the new political season.

The agenda on the first day includes debates on changes to the Health Act, approval for three annual reports (of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the communications regulator), and ratification of an agreement with Saudi Arabia on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion.

It is also expected that the emphasis will be placed on the governance situation in which three ministers stepped down from the posts. Their resignations have not been submitted to the Parliament.

Yesterday, at the coalition council in which the coalition partners GERB and the United Patriots participated, it became clear that the debate over the resignations would be postponed to the next Monday. Then there will be a new coalition council.

If this council agrees to accept the resignations, they will be submitted for voting in plenary hall. If Parliament vote to accept the resignations, the three ministers - Nankov, Radev and Moskovski - will return as regular MPs in Parliament.