MPs again failed to elect Speaker of the Parliament

For a second day in a row, Bulgaria’s Parliament failed to elect its Speaker.

Desislava Atanasova of GERB-UDF made a motion on behalf of the parliamentary group to close the debate. The motion was adopted by 206 votes.

As the most senior MP, Vezhdi Rashidov was proposed for the post, but in an emotional speech after the debate, he refused to be nominated.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) nominated again Yordan Tsonev, "Vazrazhdane" proposed Tsveta Rangelova, and the "BSP for Bulgaria" stood behind the candidacy of Kristian Vigenin. The GERB-UDF and "We Continue the Change" said they would not propose new candidates.

In the vote, Yordan Tsonev received the support of 102 MPs, Kristian Vigenin was supported by 74 and Tsveta Rangelova by 27.

Tsonev and Vigenin were the candidates who made it to the second round of voting. Tsonev received 102 votes in favour and Vigenin – 73 (out of 225 MPs in the plenary chamber).

Chairman Vezhdi Rashidov scheduled a new sitting for tomorrow at 10:00.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva, BNT

Election of Speaker of Parliament: Stalemate continues, parties looking for a way to resolve the crisis

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CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE 48TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

After eight hours of voting, discussions, breaks and verbal skirmishes yesterday, the first plenary sitting of the 48th National Assembly was adjourned - without an elected Speaker. After two votes in two rounds, no agreement was reached. Five parties put forward their own candidates for the post of Parliament Speaker and this effectively scattered the votes with none of them being able to muster a majority.

After the meeting, “Democratic Bulgaria” made a proposal that the chairmanship be rotated between the candidates of the two largest parliamentary groups - Rosen Zhelyazkov of GERB-UDF and Nikola Minchev of “We Continue the Change”.

GERB-UDF supported the proposal of "Democratic Bulgaria". BSP described the idea as inappropriate, but stressed that their goal was to make the Parliament work.

"We Continue the Change" withdraw the candidacy of Nikola Minchev for Speaker of Parliament

In the evening, however, there was a partial resolution of the blocked election, as "We Continue the Change" announced that they were withdrawing the candidacy of Nikola Minchev, even though in their opinion he was the most worthy. “We Continue the change” said they would not nominate a candidate at the meeting today, October 20.

Images by Dessislava Kulelieva, BNT