Last working day of Bulgaria's 48th National Assembly

last working day bulgaria 39s 48th national assembly

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16:40, 02.02.2023

The MPs adopted a declaration condemning the violence against Bulgarians in North Macedonia, without debate. The decision was adopted by 184 votes in favour out of 185. One abstained.

The MPs urged the authorities to take targeted measures to combat hate crimes in all their forms and manifestations, as well as to identify and punish the perpetrators of the attack on Hristian Pendikov. A 30-minute break followed.

The parties then read out declarations to conclude their work in this Parliament:

Dessislava Atanasova, chair of GERB-UDF group: "At the beginning of the 48th National Assembly the GERB group made a commitment to make efforts to have a government. It was clear that the formation of a regular government requires a number of compromises. There were convincing majorities on many issues, there was a lack of political courage. The GERB group was prepared to take on this political responsibility, which went beyond the mandate given to us by the voters. We have consistently reached out to your opponents and proposed a Council of Ministers without party figures. We were ready to have serious talks. We proposed different formulas - a government of national accord, through a programme government to a government of experts. We were ready to have an anti-crisis government. We met clichés. We are grateful for the courage shown by the Parliamentary Goupss, who were prepared to give our government a chance. It is no secret that we relied mostly on the Democratic Bulgaria, whose role could have been crucial. They had a clear choice - work with us or give another mandate of unknown length to the President's caretaker government. They chose the latter.

Today we believe that the political crisis can be solved with political courage. We are convinced that the political crisis can neither be solved in a convenient way for the parties, nor with eccentricities, nor with slogans. Lack of political capacity is the main reason for the impasse in which our country is. The political crisis cannot be solved without us. An attempt has been made to destroy our party. The GERB-UDF is a stable and unavoidable fact and is no longer in isolation but at the centre of the political process. This can become a lasting reason for the resolution of the crisis.

We interacted with all political forces - something that was not possible in the 45th, 46th and 47th National Assemblies. We cannot be bypassed and brushed aside. The 48th National Assembly was not able to elect a regular government, but it was able to take a number of important decisions. After Kiril Petkov's cabinet was unable to take a clear position on Ukraine, this has now happened, important laws have been adopted for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, steps have been taken towards membership in the euro zone and Schengen. Financial stability was shaken by former Finance Minister Assen Vassilev. Controlling inflation will not end the economic problems. A challenge for the 49th National Assembly will be the dispute over economic growth - a costly mistake by the parties of the change. I thank you on behalf of the GERB-UDF group for agreeing to take over the presidency of the 48th National Assembly at an important time and I apologise for putting you to this test."

Andrey Gyurov - Chairman of “We Continue the Change” Group: "We are closing the 48th National Assembly and it is time for a review. We have one bad and one good news. The bad news is that this was the parliament of missed opportunities. The good news is that the groups are clear. One group of people says – that is how things are here. Your normal is not the European normal. There is a future where it doesn't matter what you are, schools educate, hospitals treat illnesses and the chef prosecutor doesn't talk to the boss. This is the parliament of the "paper ballot coalition" (referring to GERB-UDF, BSP and MRF - the parties which backed the return of paper ballot in elections). Changes to electoral law have become the symbol of this parliament - legitimising electoral abuse.

We increased hospital wages, we passed key laws on the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Did this National Assembly continue the judicial reform - no, there was no will. Did this National Assembly do anything to fight corruption - no, it refused, it was not a priority. That is why we are at the European bottom of the corruption index. It remains for the next parliament. The victims of domestic violence were left for another time. It was more important for GERB, “Vazrazhdane” and Bulgarian Socialist Party to sow fears. Saving Geshev (chief prosecutor) was more important than saving the Black Sea.

In addition to lagging behind the Schengen target, we are also falling behind eurozone readiness. Who, ask the parties that tabled the same amendment, along with the spelling mistakes in it. We will not miss this National Assembly - judicial reform, Schengen, the eurozone were not among the priorities. The greatest danger would be if we get overcome by anger and despair. It is time for courage."

Mustafa Karadayi - chair of MRF: "We cannot be indifferent after another failure to solve the political crisis in the country. We have had three early elections. Our recent history does not remember such a crisis. At this historic moment we are learning the wisest lessons. It is important that we learn the right lessons. It is important to transform crises into new opportunities. Today, everyone responsible will answer to themselves whether all efforts were made to resolve the political and related crises, whether the NA is working with the public agenda. It is good for everyone to answer honestly.

People did not want elections, they wanted their problems to be solved. Today we have to admit that the 48th NA failed because of lack of dialogue. We understood the message of the voters. We are representatives of the whole peoples and if the people have to live together and would succeed in unity, the same applies to us. So if there is division in the society, there would be no success. DSame applies to the National Assembly.

Political forces could achieve success with humility. The President has given enough time to politicians to find a way, to create bridges for dialogue. It was worth the effort - this is our assessment of the political situation. We failed to elect a cabinet, prices are rising, incomes are melting. We go to elections again, but we hope that we go to elections with lessons learned.

The talks we have learned to have should be the basis for the dialogue in the 49th National Assembly. Let the election campaign have an honest dialogue."

Kostadin Kostadinov - Chairman of "Vazrazhdane": "The judicial reform of Bulgaria depends on the Bulgarian people. We from "Vazrazhdane" as believers in the wisdom of the Bulgarian people welcome the fact that we will have the opportunity for a fifth remedial exam. We will work so that Bulgarians see the truth as it is.

Two significant successes and two significant failures. The success - to renegotiate the RRP in its energy part. The second success of this National Assembly was a few minutes ago - defending the Bulgarian cause for Macedonia.

A significant failure is the failed judicial reform, sabotaged by those who have made it their creed. We will have collected 600 000 signatures, while 400 000 are required for the referendum on the euro. There are parties that are afraid of elections. It is a good sign that this Parliament did not form a government. Instead of creating political zombies, elections are a much better solution.

We in “Vazrazhdane” are addressing all Bulgarians to tell them that the fate of Bulgaria is in your hands. Do not believe those who tell you that the result will be the same. Use this power for its intended purpose. Seek the truth, verify it. Because we have a fundamental problem. People do not believe in the Bulgarian state. They think the political class is rotten.

The challenge before us is great, because if we do not convince the people that they are the power, God save Bulgaria! Bulgarians are the state - not the politicians."

Kornelia Ninova - BSP Chair: "The 48th National Assembly failed to fulfill its most important task - a cabinet and peace of mind for the Bulgarians and there are reasons for that. In the next National Assembly the most important task is to guarantee the parliamentary republic and to have a cabinet.

The war has had an impact in two directions - militarily and socio-economic. The military took precedence. The first decision was for F-16s, followed by military aid. This military advantage in parliamentary talk was dressed up in clichés. Those who are pro-arms are Euro-Atlantic, the others are retrograde Eurasians. The labels were black and white. Forgetting that the lowest European value is peace. The war will end with a peace agreement. President Macron said that peace is possible when everyone sits at the same table. Chancellor Scholz said the same thing. The big ones are already looking to peace. And that is the future if we want peace.

Absence of a united majority - that is how the people voted us in. This has led us to situational solutions. This is instability. This is lack of predictability. And it has given birth to speculation. There's been a line lately - the good guys versus the bad guys, the status quo versus change. Everybody here is status quo because that word means the present.

This has been a parliament marked by scandals, you have seen scandals - drawers and bullets against Jamcorp and Nexo. Responsibility was being transferred - for a Europe of reason and peace, and we tabled the Schengen declaration. Concentration on the most important issue - prices, poverty and inequality. It was understood who the left party was and with left measures to achieve left results. Free textbooks, minimum wage. We saved nurseries from closure. Dear Bulgarian citizens, the decision on who you send to this Chamber is yours. Think - with heart and with reason."

Hristo Ivanov - co-chairman of Democratic Bulgaria: "We are on the verge of leaving the National Assembly. Everyone chooses whether to wrap in clichés what happened or to start the campaign. This is not a separate parliament that has not elected a cabinet. It appears that the Bulgarian parliament permanently cannot have moments and not even hidden majorities, but it did not dare to stand in front of the people.

The Bulgarian parliamentary republic began to mutate into a reserve model, inherited from the pre-1991 era in which the National Assembly met in sessions. The presidency rules. We have signs of a strange quasi-presidential regime. This speaks of a serious disease in our political system. Dialogue is the ability to come to a decision, to share power.

The reason we cannot elect a government is because we cannot negotiate power sharing. Power in Bulgaria has created the practice of exercising it outside the boundaries of the law. We must guarantee the rule of law. This is the shortest diagnosis of the crisis. We came in with short priorities - to have parliamentary governance linked to Schengen, the rule of law and the conflict in Ukraine.

It was said in the last weeks of this National Assembly that we need constitutional reform of the Prosecutor’s office. This is something positive which we hope will not be used as another tactical manoeuvre. If we do reform the justice system, I note this with moderate hope. DB was dialogical, but it was not unprincipled. We are not going to be anyone's front man. DB was the most civil."

Stefan Yanev - Chairman of "Bulgaria Ascending": "This is the fifth time we are going to elections and this is an indicator of the collapse of the political system and this worries me deeply. I have sworn to defend my country at the cost of my life, but here I was a mediator. Many of you think it is their stick that is thicker than Kubrat's bundle. Valuable time was wasted squabbling for power at all costs instead of drawing up a plan to get Bulgaria through this crisis.

In an attempt to accumulate personal image, many missed that more and more Bulgarians are drowning in misery. Our patience has run out with this political inaction. If we all believe that we are heirs of Athenian democracy, let us recall its foundations.

The country is running on caretaker autopilot. The parties refused to form a government out of fear and selfishness. Who needs parties if they cannot do the only thing they exist for. Bulgaria is in crisis and if we don't want to see it on a bed in intensive care, we need hard work and sacrifices. Let us return after the elections, may be tired but wiser."

Vezhdi Rashidov - Speaker of the National Assembly: "I crossed the threshold as the oldest MP with the hope that after a series of shouting, insults, opposition, we will try to find an understanding, to make a step forward together. And it seemed that in the first moments the magic happened, but alas, as always, the illusion was short-lived. We plunged back into the familiar anti-utopia - procedures, speeches, breaks, voting and re-voting, and again I began to wonder - until when.

Again we are faced with a choice. To think about what we are doing and what we are leaving and whether we are destroying or creating. I pray that the next elections will bring more security, hope and unity. May the morning be wiser. Our people deserve it. Good luck. I close the 48th National Assembly."

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva