site.btaSocialists Approve Proposal for Rotational National Assembly Chairmanship, Coalition Awaits Formal Discussions

The National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has officially approved a proposal for a rotational chairmanship of the National Assembly, party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov announced following the National Council plenum on Sunday. The decision was supported by 100 members, with three abstentions and two votes against. 

On October 21, after a session of the Joint Governance Council of the ruling three-party coalition, it became known that GERB and There Is Such a People (TISP) had raised the issue of introducing a rotating parliamentary chairmanship as part of the shared governance model between the coalition partners.

Zafirov emphasized that the rotation principle will be formally incorporated into the coalition’s joint governance agreement, alongside a comprehensive review of its policies. He noted that the BSP remains committed to ensuring stable governance, safeguarding national security, and preventing a fuel market crisis amid ongoing US sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft. 

The party also announced plans to advocate for measures in the 2026 state budget to raise incomes, maintain the “Swiss rule” for pensions, support young families, and propose reforms to the tax and social security system. The BSP’s Finance and Economy Committee has been tasked with developing a framework under the motto: “Justice, Statehood, Development.”

Deputy National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan said earlier in the day that GERB-UDF would await BSP’s formal decision before discussing the implementation mechanism, noting that the shared chairmanship is part of efforts to ensure coordinated governance among the three-party coalition (GERB-UDF, BSP – United Left, and TISP). 

Current National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova (BSP–United Left) stated earlier that any rotation decision will follow party and coalition procedures, and she sees no reason to resign as an MP if replaced as Parliament Chair.