51st National Assembly of Bulgaria
51st National Assembly 51-то Народно събрание | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| Founded | November 11, 2024 |
| Preceded by | 50th National Assembly |
| Leadership | |
Vacant | |
Deputy Speakers | Vacant |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 240 |
.svg) | |
Political groups | |
| Meeting place | |
| "The Party House", Sofia | |
| Website | |
| parliament.bg | |
The Fifty First National Assembly (Bulgarian: Петдесет и първото народно събрание) is a convocation of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, formed according to the results of the snap parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, held on 27 October 2024.[1]
Positions and Leadership
[edit]National Assembly Speaker and Deputy-Speakers
[edit]The opening session of the 51st National Assembly, as per tradition, was chaired by the oldest MP, Silvi Kirilov from ITN, who had also chaired the opening session of the preceding parliament.[2]
5 candidacies were presented for the Speakership in the first attempt to elect a speaker: former Speaker of the 50th National Assembly, Raya Nazaryan, from GERB-SDS, former Minister of Regional Development and PP-DB MP Andrey Tsekov, Revival MP Petar Petrov, BSP MP Natalia Kiselova, and ITN MP Nikoleta Kuzmanova.[3] During the voting, most parliamentary groups voted along party lines, with the exception of MECh and APS, who voted in support of all candidates with the exception of Nazaryan, while DPS-NN voted against all the candidates.[4] Ultimately, Raya Nazaryan and Andrey Tsekov proceeded into a second round, in which neither candidate managed to gain the necessary support for a majority.[4] Following the failure of the first attempt to elect a speaker, ITN representative Toshko Yordanov called for the election of the oldest MP, Silvi Kirilov, as a temporary Chairman in order to enable the function of the National Assembly, as had previously occurred with the election of Vezhdi Rashidov in the 48th National Assembly.[4]
A second attempt at electing a speaker was scheduled for the 13 November.[5] The same 5 candidates were nominated, indicating that no deal had been made between the political parties in the preceding day.[6] All the candidates received a similar number of votes as to the first attempt, with neither Nazaryan nor Tsekov being able to gain the votes necessary for a majority.[7]
A third attempt was undertaken on the 15th of November with a similar outcome, although, unlike in prior rounds, ITN nominated Silvi Kirilov (who had been chairing the proceedings as the oldest MP) and MECh changed their position from voting in favour of all non-GERB candidates to abstaining.[8]
On the 20th of November, a fourth attempt to elect a speaker was undertaken. Prior to the vote, PP-DB announced that they would withdraw the candidacy of Andrey Tsekov and instead support the candidacy of Silvi Kirilov from ITN.[9] Thus, four candidacies were initially nominated: Raya Nazaryan from GERB-SDS, Petar Petrov from Revival, Natalia Kiselova from BSP - OL and Silvi Kirilov from ITN.[10] Presenting the candidacy of Kirilov, ITN MP, Toshko Yordanov, implied that the selection of Kirilov may also enable a change in the current Caretaker Government and allow for the operation of parliament until a stable majority is formed.[10] In the vote for the candidacies, a notable split was noted within the PP-DB group, with most MPs belonging to PP voting for the candidacy, while those belonging to Yes, Bulgaria! and DSB abstaining.[10] Kirilov ultimately gained 67 votes in the first round, assuring his participation in a second round against Raya Nazaryan who gained 69 votes.[10] In the 2nd round, Silvi Kirilov received 101 votes, which fell short of a majority.[10]
The fifth attempt to elect a speaker took place on the 22nd of November, with the same 4 candidates being nominated.[11] Following the nomination of the candidates, heated debate took place between, primarily, representatives of ITN and Vazrazdhane on the one hand, and representatives of Yes, Bulgaria! and the BSP on the other.[11] The former accused the two parties of blocking the functioning of the parliament and servicing the interests of Delyan Peevski and Boyko Borisov.[11] The latter, on the other hand, pointed out that the election of a speaker should be contingent on the adoption of a clear legislative program, and further argued that electing Kirilov would absolve GERB of responsibility in the government formation process.[11] During the debates, GERB leader, Boyko Borisov, made clear that he did not intend to withdraw the candidacy of Nazaryan.[11] Due to the high tension caused by the debate, Acting Speaker Kirilov scheduled a 30 minute break before voting.[12] The vote yielded a similar result as in the previous attempt 2 days ago, with Kirilov entering into a runoff with Nazaryan and receiving 101 votes in favour, while Nazaryan received 69.[11]
On the 27th of November, a sixth attempt to elect a speaker took place, with the same 4 candidates nominated. Despite appeals by ITN figures to representatives from BSP, Yes, Bulgaria! and DSB, the vote ended up yielding a similar result, with Nazaryan recieving 69 votes, while Kirilov recieved 100 votes.[13]
On the 28th of November, a seventh attempt to elect a speaker took place. The same 4 candidates as in previous rounds were intially nominated and recieved similar levels of support as in prior rounds, with Kirilov and Nazaryan proceeding to the second round.[14] The debate became increasingly heated due to clashes between MPs from ITN and Revival on the one hand, and BSP, Yes, Bulgaria! and DSB on the other.[14] Tensions became especially high during the speech of Revival leader, Kostadin Kostadinov, who called DB marginal and dangerous, leading to heckling by Yes, Bulgaria MP, Manol Peykov.[14] The heated nature of debate led to a 30 minute break prior to the first voting round.[14] During one of the breaks, Manol Peykov alleged that he was attacked by Revival MP, Slavcho Krumov.[15] Following the first round, which yielded similar results, a long break was scheduled, during which MP Bozhidar Bozhanov claimed that representatives of the Democratic Bulgaria parties had agreed to support Kirilov as a concession to the current situation in parliament.[14] During the vote, Kirilov initially recieved 118 votes, which ITN MP Toshko Yordanov argued constituted a majority as 234 MPs had registered on the opening day (albeit 238 MPs were present in the room during voting).[14] This led to demands for a re-vote, during which, Kirilov recieved 117 votes, thus conclusively falling short of a majority.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Президентът свиква първото заседание на новия парламент на 11 ноември". Dnevnik.bg (in Bulgarian). 2024-11-04. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Силви Кирилов ще открие първото заседание на 51-то НС". Dnes.bg (in Bulgarian). 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "2 жени и Андрей Цеков срещу Рая Назарян за шеф на парламента, ДПС на Делян Пеевски извън парламента". 24Chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b c "Равенство на балотажа: Цеков срещу Назарян - кой ще бъде следващият председател на 51-вото НС". Vesti.bg (in Bulgarian). 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Какво ще се случи, ако и днес парламентът остане без председател?". bTV Новините (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Отново петима кандидати се борят за поста на председател на 51-ото Народно събрание". www.bta.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "Депутатите отново не избраха председател на Народното събрание". www.bta.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ "За трети път парламентът не успя да си избере председател, отлага за сряда". www.24chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "За трети път парламентът не успя да си избере председател, отлага за сряда". www.BoulevardBulgaria.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ a b c d e "ОБЗОР: Четвърти провал при избора на председател на НС, нов опит ще има след дни". www.BTV.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ a b c d e f "Блокажът в парламента продължава, депутатите отново не избраха председател". www.Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ "Заради "разстройства в ендокринната система" депутатите са в почивка". www.24Chasa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-22.
- ^ "Блокажът в парламента продължава, депутатите отново не избраха председател". www.Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Седми опит: Пак няма председател на парламента (видео)". www.Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-28.
- ^ ""Не ме блъскай, смотльо": Сблъсъци и обиди в кулоарите на парламента". www.Mediapool.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2024-11-28.