site.btaVelichie MPs Apologize for Registering for Work at National Assembly

We sincerely apologize and will improve communication to prevent such misunderstandings, Velichie MP Maria Ilieva said at a briefing at the National Assembly, after party leader Ivelin Mihaylov stated earlier on Thursday that Velichie distances itself from the actions of the eight MPs from the parliamentary group who registered for the parliamentary quorum in the morning.

“The whole group got together a little while ago, and I have been delegated to share the common position of all colleagues standing behind me,” Ilieva said. She spoke to the media along with five other MPs from the party. “This was a communication error,” she explained. “Indeed, Ivelin Mihaylov's instructions have always been to register once there are 121 MPs present, so that we do not form an unnecessary quorum,” she added.

“We stand firmly behind Mihaylov, we have always backed him and all those who stand firmly behind us, who give their time, effort, and resources to fight alongside us for this cause,” Ilieva said. She apologized "sincerely" and said that she and her colleagues had "no bad intentions."

We have never had a situation where the ruling parties did not have quorum; usually, they are the ones who have to ensure quorum in the National Assembly, Ilieva added. “This time, they did not show up. Usually, the opposition, which is why it is the opposition, votes against what the ruling party wants,” Ilieva said, adding that in this case, MPs from Velichie voted against the ruling majority. “We were obviously wrong,” she said.

The National Assembly has not convened for a second consecutive day due to lack of quorum. On Thursday morning, 71 MPs registered in the plenary hall, short of the 121 required. Registration included 29 MPs from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria, nine from BSP - United Left, 14 from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), 11 from Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh), and 8 from Velichie.