ZORNITSA RUSINOVA APPROVED AS BULGARIA’S MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL POLICY

On 18th of May, Bulgaria’s Parliament voted to approve Zornitsa Rusinova as the Minister of Labour and social affairs. She replaces Ivailo Kalfin, who was a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in that portfolio.

From a total of 211 MPs, 135 voted in favour, 68 voted against and 8 abstained. Zornitsa Rusinova’s appointment was supported by MPs from GERB, the Reformist Bloc, the Patriotic Front, the Bulgarian Democratic Centre and ABC party. The votes against came from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms and Ataka party. Eight MPs from the Reformist bloc abstained.

The Parliament also voted to approve a decision on structural changes in the government, according to which the Deputy Prime Ministers would be 3 instead of 4.

The MPs adopted Ivailo Kalfin’s resignation as Deputy PM and minister.

Kalfin resigned on 10th of May after the parliamentary group of the ABC party announced its decision to withdraw its support to the government.

Before being voted into office, Zornitsa Rusinova said that there were three principles in social policy – dialogue, activity and commitment and added she would follow these principles during her term of office. Rusinova thanked Kalfin for the reforms already started.