site.btaMRF Party Rift Triggers Push for Parliamentary Naming Changes

A proposed amendment to the Rules of Procedure of Bulgaria’s National Assembly seeks to prevent two parliamentary groups from using the same name or abbreviation. The change, submitted by Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova, will affect the group of Democracy, Rights and Freedoms.

The proposal comes in response to a request by MPs from the parliamentary group of Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning (MRF - New Beginning), who argue that names and abbreviations of parliamentary groups should align with the registration of political parties or coalitions in the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The 51st National Assembly currently includes two parliamentary groups using the Bulgarian abbreviation of "DPS": MRF - New Beginning, led by Delyan Peevski, and Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF), which was formed by MPs loyal to MRF honorary chair Ahmed Dogan. The CEC accepted applications from both factions for the last parliamentary elections and both continue to claim ownership of the once-solid party of Movement for Rights and Freedoms (or DPS in Bulgarian).

The proposed amendment introduces a rule that prohibits a parliamentary group’s name or abbreviation from duplicating that of another group or a political party or coalition registered in the most recent elections. The rule also prohibits using additional words, numbers, or symbols to bypass this restriction.

A transitional provision gives affected groups three days to change their name once the amendment takes effect. If they fail to comply, the group will automatically be renamed to reflect the official registration of the party or coalition under which its members were elected, with the change to be announced by the Speaker of Parliament.