site.bta52nd National Assembly's Inaugural Sitting: Parliament Chair Elected, Six Parliamentary Groups Formed

The inaugural sitting of the 52nd National Assembly took place here on Thursday. Six parliamentary groups were formed after the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition decided to split in two on Wednesday, as the just sworn-in MPs elected Progressive Bulgaria MP Mihaela Dotsova as National Assembly Chair. 

The sitting was opened by the oldest National Representative present: 78-year-old Progressive Bulgaria MP Rumen Milanov. He then administered the 240 lawmakers' oath. The Bulgarian national anthem and the anthem of Europe were played in the debating chamber. The MPs of Vazrazhdane remained seated during the playing of the Ode to Joy.

President Iliana Iotova addressed the MPs saying that the legislature must go ahead with voting a 2026 State budget as one of its key functions. "It is time that Bulgaria cease acting like a timid guest in the European family," the head of State argued. "Nineteen years after our admission [to the EU], our strong and influential voice must be heard because our view, our position and viewpoint are worth and are valued exactly as much as those of each of the 27 Member States."

Parliament Chair Elected

Progressive Bulgaria MP Mihaela Dotsova was elected National Assembly Chair with support from her coalition, GERB-UDF and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). The other political forces abstained from voting. After the parliamentary groups were announced, each of them elected a National Assembly Deputy Chair from its ranks: Progressive Bulgaria MP Ivan Angelov, GERB-UDF MP Raya Nazaryan, MRF MP Ayten Sabri, DB MP Atanas Atanassov, CC MP Stoyu Stoev and Vazrazhdane MP Tsoncho Ganev.

"The challenge before us is to restore best practices in Bulgarian lawmaking, to make the process predictable rather than rushed, and to ensure it is based on debate rather than procedural formalism," Dotsova said in a speech from the parliamentary rostrum.

Six Parliamentary Groups Formed, Floor Leaders Announced

Progressive Bulgaria: Floor Leader Petar Vitanov, Deputy Floor Leaders Galin Durev, Vladimir Nikolov, Slavi Vassilev, Olga Borisova.

GERB-UDF: Floor Leader Boyko Borissov, Deputy Floor Leaders Denitsa Sacheva, Kostadin Angelov and Roumen Hristov.

Democratic Bulgaria: Floor Leader Nadejda Iordanova, Deputy Floor Leaders Bozhidar Bozhanov and Katya Paneva.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms: Floor Leader Delyan Peevski, Deputy Floor Leaders Ayten Sabri, Halil Letifov, Hamid Hamid and Iskra Mihaylova-Koparova.

Continue the Change: Floor Leader Nikolay Denkov, Deputy Floor Leaders Ivaylo Shotev, Tatyana Sultanova-Siveva.

Vazrazhdane: Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov, Deputy Floor Leader Peter Petrov.

Political Forces Read Declarations

The five elected political forces read declarations during the sittings. As the declarations were read out before the parliamentary groups were announced, Nadejda Iordanova spoke on behalf of the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition. 

Progressive Bulgaria MP Petar Vitanov highlighted passing State budget and addressing issues with treasury as priorities ahead of the coalition and the Parliament. Curbing speculation will also be a key task, he noted. The MP also identified the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council and a new prosecutor general as major priorities for Progressive Bulgaria. "Тhis is a strategic task that requires a qualified majority It cannot be achieved without Progressive Bulgaria, but it will also need the support of other parties," Vitanov said.

GERB-UDF MP Toma Bikov said his coalition will support Progressive Bulgaria's nomination for National Assembly Chair but this "should not be interpreted as an attempt at negotiation or as a particular political message, but as an effort to revive a somewhat forgotten parliamentary tradition and an opportunity to establish a higher political standard in this Parliament." The declaration read out by Bikov further noted that in the recent elections, a large majority voted to end the fragmented coalition model and grant Progressive Bulgaria full control. "GERB–UDF accepts the result and is ready to act as a constructive, centre-right opposition, defending national interests and exercising parliamentary oversight," it said.

CC-DB MP Nadejda Iordanova said that the parties in the coalition will take their rightful place as opposition, but will not be mere bystanders. "We will be consistent in defending the rule of law. Citizens demanded an end to the model of a state under siege, to impunity, and to institutions that serve the powerful rather than the citizens," she added. "Our opposition stance is clear: you will have our support for any measure that strengthens the rule of law, modernizes the State, and preserves Bulgaria’s European course. We will support any action that compels regulators to work in the public interest, and we will oppose any policy that replaces the fight against corruption with a new concentration of dependencies," Iordanova stressed.

MRF MP Ayten Sabri said her party will be playing its role as a constructive and responsible opposition. "We will be backing each policy that defends people's rights and freedoms and is in the interest of Bulgarian citizens and the State," she pointed out.  She pointed out that her party prioritizes quality of life and raising people's standard of living, economic stability and growth, modernization of the economy and agricultural production, ensuring food safety, overcoming social and regional inequalities, supporting young families, preserving and developing traditional values, the country's consistent European development as an effective EU Member State, and constructive partnership with the US and the Euro-Atlantic community.

Vazrazhdane Chair Kostadin Kostadinov said his party will "be the nation’s conscience," clarifying that he addresses only the Bulgarian people. He declared that his party will "continue to speak the truth in the temple of lies in which we find ourselves" and "will offer solutions." Vazrazhdane emphasized the need to bring back the Bulgarian lev, with Kostadinov arguing that "the State’s excessive debt is due to the fact that we were forcibly brought into the eurozone."