Bulgaria's National Assembly Fails to Convene Extraordinary Session Due to Quorum Shortfall

On June 2, 2024, Bulgaria's National Assembly was unable to convene an extraordinary session called by Rositsa Kirova at the request of 'We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria' because a lack of quorum prevented it. Only 67 representatives were present, falling short of the required number.

Why this matters: The failure of Bulgaria's National Assembly to convene an extraordinary session highlights the ongoing political instability and deep divisions within the country's governing body. This could lead to further delays in addressing critical issues, potentially impacting the country's economic and social development.

The breakdown of attendees included 1 representative from GERB-SDS, 56 from 'We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria', 9 from 'There is such a people', and 1 independent MP. The session had been scheduled to discuss two critical topics: a draft decision to oblige the Minister of Health to conclude a Collective Labor Agreement in the 'Health' sector, and a hearing by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dimitar Glavchev regarding the UN resolution on the International Day of Commemoration of the Genocide committed by the Bosnian Serb Army in Srebrenica in 1995.

Rositsa Kirova, chairperson of the meeting, announced the lack of quorum and scheduled the next registration attempt for today, 3:15 p.m. However, the chances of achieving a quorum seemed slim as 'Revival' and 'BSP for Bulgaria' had already announced their non-participation in the session.

Cornelia Ninova, leader of BSP for Bulgaria, stated that her party would not attend the extraordinary session. She argued that the topics included were important but not urgent enough to warrant an extraordinary meeting. Ninova emphasized that the issues could be resolved after the elections.

Ninova also criticized the exclusion of two key points from the session's agenda: Bulgaria not sending troops to Ukraine and ensuring Bulgarian military equipment is not used for shelling targets on Russian territory. She questioned the authority of caretaker minister Zapryanov, stating, 'Who are you, caretaker minister for 2 months, Zapryanov, to single-handedly declare Ukraine to do whatever it decides with the armaments and equipment provided by Bulgaria?! The only body that can decide these issues is the National Assembly, and the official cabinet to organize the elections.'

The failure to convene the extraordinary session highlights the ongoing political tensions within Bulgaria's National Assembly. The inability to gather a quorum reflects the deep divisions among the parliamentary groups, particularly on sensitive issues such as foreign policy and labor agreements in the health sector.

The National Assembly continues to wrestle with these challenges, the political atmosphere in Bulgaria remains highly polarized. The next steps will likely involve further negotiations and attempts to bridge the gaps between the various parliamentary factions.

Key Takeaways

• Bulgaria's National Assembly fails to convene extraordinary session due to lack of quorum.
• Only 67 representatives present, short of required number.
• Session aimed to discuss health sector labor agreement and UN resolution on Srebrenica genocide.
• 'Revival' and 'BSP for Bulgaria' parties boycott session, citing non-urgent topics.
• Failure highlights ongoing political instability and deep divisions within National Assembly.