site.btaParliament Sets New Standards for Parliamentary Group Names

MPs adopted changes to the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly regarding the names of parliamentary groups on Thursday. 

The amendments stipulate that a parliamentary group’s name or abbreviation may no longer duplicate the name or abbreviation of another group, political party or coalition registered with the Central Election Commission (CEC) for participation in the most recent elections, including by the addition of words, letters, numbers or other symbols.

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 amendment was approved with 122 votes in favor from GERB-UDF, MRF–New Beginning, BSP–United Left, TISP, and one independent MP. Fifty-eight MPs voted against, representing Vazrazhdane, DRF-MRF, Velichie, and four members of CC-DB. Thirty-seven MPs from CC-DB and MECh abstained.

The new regulations require any parliamentary group whose name or abbreviation does not comply with the adopted provision to change it within three days of the decision’s entry into force. If this is not done, the name of the political party or coalition, as registered with the CEC for the most recent parliamentary elections, will be assigned as the group’s name. Parliament also decided that the Chair of the National Assembly must immediately announce the change and record it in the register.

The proposal to amend the Parliamentary Rules was submitted by Chair of the National Assembly Nataliya Kiselova following a request from members of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning.