site.btaUPDATED Parliament Chair Nazaryan Opens Likely Final Session of Current National Assembly

“This is likely the last session of this National Assembly,” Parliament Chair Raya Nazaryan said at the opening of the meeting, wishing MPs success in the new year. “Let us show a constructive spirit and diligence in the remaining time; I believe you can, and I wish you successful work,” she added before initiating the registration procedure. The electronic board recorded 216 MPs present in the chamber.

Nazaryan also expressed hope that the upcoming election campaign would not inflame passions in the chamber or expose citizens to gratuitous confrontations and insults.

Addressing the parliamentary groups, she called on MPs to be more tolerant, respectful, constructive and dialogical, noting that each MP’s behaviour, competence, experience, morality and dedication shape the image of the modern legislator.  

In line with National Assembly rules, each session opened with the anthems of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union.

MPs observed a one-minute silence in memory of the recently deceased football player and coach Dimitar Penev.

A proposal from Vazrazhdane to hold hearings on Thursday with heads of key institutions, including the Bulgarian National Bank, over euro-related issues was rejected when Parliament's weekly agenda was put to the vote. The item was included earlier in the day under a procedural rule allowing first-Wednesday points without a vote. 

A request from Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) for the National Assembly to consider amendments to the National Service for Protection Act was approved for discussion under the same procedural rule. Parliament also approved a request from BSP–United Left to discuss amendments to the legislation concerning student loans on Thursday, aimed at reducing student loan interest rates.

Following Parliament's rules of procedure, Nazaryan announced the bodies and members whose terms in office have expired and are due for election. 

During the fifth session of the 51st National Assembly, Deyan Dechev of BSP - United Left will chair the commission overseeing the security services, which rotates its chairmanship, Nazaryan said. 

According to the National Assembly rules, each session opens with the anthem of the Republic of Bulgaria followed by the European Union anthem.