site.btaTensions Rise among Parliamentary Groups on Wednesday

Tensions rose high between the parliamentary groups on Wednesday as they turned against each other on multiple topics. The National Assembly voted on a request by the acting Prosecutor General to lift the immunity of four MPs of Vazrazhdane while Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, GERB-UDF and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - New Beginning clashed over the counter-corruption commission's leadership. 

CC-DB MP Kiril Petkov complained that for yet another week, the majority in Parliament refuses to add on the legislature's agenda the rules of procedure of the Counter-Corruption and Unlawfully Acquired Assets Forfeiture Commission. He went on to personally slam GERB leader Boyko Borissov and MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski, saying that "the tandem of the two wants to manipulate the rules so as to make sure Anton Slavchev takes the helm" of the Commission. Slavchev is its current head. 

GERB Floor Leader Boyko Borissov responded by saying that "what Kiril Petkov says is the last thing I care about". 

MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski showed reporters a photograph of Petkov talking to Slavchev, saying: "Look at these two boys sharing a laugh and loving each other."

Petkov responded by saying that the photo was taken as he was "walking freely on the pavement" and Slavchev stopped him. The MP of CC-DB stressed that exactly a year ago, his party demanded Slavchev's resignation and continues to do so. "Bulgaria will not change until there is at least one institution that fights corruption. With Anton Slavchev [at the helm of the Commission] this cannot happen," he said. 

Vazrazhdane Floor Leader Kostadin Kostadinov accused MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski of attacking his party after requests to strip four MPs of Vazrazhdane of their immunity. Kostadinov argued that CC-DB, Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh), Velichie and 10-11 BSP - United Left MPs are Peevski's "private property" and always support him in critical moments. 

MECh Floor Leader Radostin Vasilev said that "GERB’s proxy Vazrazhdane persistently attacks MECh, which is the only opposition to Peevski and Borissov". He explained that the party took the decision to support the request to lift Vazrazhdane MPs' immunity because they want the "people who smashed and vandalized the centre of Sofia" to be held accountable. 

Veliche Floor Leader Ivelin Mihaylov criticized the Movement for Rights and Freedoms for suspending social services to a Bulgarian Muslim woman who voted against local expectations, symbolizing a new form of soul-taking from the community. He accused the party of shifting from protecting the disadvantaged to acting as a major aggressor alongside GERB.