site.btaRaya Nazaryan's Election as Parliament Chair Guarantees GERB Caretaker PM - MECh leader

The election of Raya Nazaryan as National Assembly Chair aims to guarantee GERB a caretaker prime minister, said MECh leader Radostin Vasilev to journalists on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova of BSP - United Left resigned, followed by Parliament quickly moving to elect Raya Nazaryan of GERB-UDF under the ruling coalition’s rotation agreement.

Under the Constitution, the head of the National Assembly is eligible to head a caretaker cabinet.

Vasilev noted that MECh is against the election of Nazaryan and does not support such a Parliament chairperson.

He commented that it seems increasingly likely that GERB leader Boyko Borissov is unable to fulfill his preliminary commitments. In Vasilev's words, Borissov will "fall thunderously in the spring." Kiselova was sacrificed in "the most undignified way." During the debate on Kiselova's resignation, the BSP took a pathetic stance, the MP added.

Vasilev also commented on the three main budgets (2026 state budget, public social insurance budget, and National Health Insurance Fund budget), describing them as "a thorn in the side of the BSP." "If they raise social security contributions, if they freeze maternity benefits for the second year, if they reduce the minimum wage or freeze the maximum social security income, this is contrary to the BSP's policy, which won this party votes," Vasilev explained. He also pointed out that the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund does not provide for an increase in doctors' salaries.

When asked whether it is imperative to shrink the state administration, Vasilev said that it is necessary. "This is a dysfunctional administration, and 30-40% of its employees are twiddling their thumbs," the MP said. According to him, the electoral apparatus of the GERB party will be liquidated. "To a large extent, it is the dependent administrative staff who vote on command," added the MP.

Regarding the information that former foreign minister Mariya Gabriel has negotiated with the UK to remove individuals from their sanctions list, Vasilev described that as "comical." "Mariya Gabriel is not a figure we can imagine leading such negotiations. Such claims must be proven," he said.