site.btaChief Prosecutor's Requests to Lift Immunity of Six MPs Dropped from Parliament's Thursday Agenda

Parliament removed from its Thursday agenda requests submitted by acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov to lift the immunity of six MPs - Dzheyhan Ibryamov and Mario Rangelov of Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) and Slavcho Krumov, Ivaylo Tchorbov, Yordan Todorov, Nikola Dimitrov of Vazrazhdane.

The decision followed a proposal by Petar Petrov of Vazrazhdane to drop the items related to the MPs’ immunity. It was approved after a re-vote by 120 votes in favour, 68 against, and 35 abstentions.

The re-vote was requested by Stanislav Anastassov of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning (MRF – New Beginning). He said the moment called for clarity on whether Bulgaria’s pro-European path is supported or whether parties affiliated with Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany are being backed. 

After the re-vote, the proposal received the same 120 votes in favour. These included 61 MPs from GERB-UDF, one from Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC–DB), 30 from Vazrazhdane, 18 from DRF, and 10 from Velichie. Those voting against were from CC–DB, MRF – New Beginning, and Morality, Unity, Honour. One MP from GERB-UDF, 17 from BSP–United Left, and 16 from There Is Such a People abstained.

Earlier on Thursday, Parliament rejected a proposal by CC–DB to set up a temporary committee on parliamentary immunities. The motion was defeated with 28 votes in favour, 107 against, and 64 abstentions.