National Assembly

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term on Friday, after his humbled ANC cobbled together an unprecedented coalition government.

Lawmakers in Cape Town voted overwhelmingly to put Ramaphosa, 71, back in office for another five years after the May 29 general election that produced no outright winner.

President Rumen Radev emphasized the need for initial military training for Bulgaria's youth during his participation in the Fourth National Assembly of the Reserve Army in Stara Zagora. He noted that NATO allies are reinstating conscription, sparking the need for a national debate on this issue.

In the recent election, the Central Election Commission (CEC) reported over 58,000 invalid votes, with 2,211,648 valid votes counted. Paper ballots in the ballot box totaled just over 1,454,000, and machine votes were nearly 815,300. Additionally, 63,913 voters chose the option "I'm not supporting anyone."

A recent analysis by the Institute for the Development of the Public Environment (IRPS) highlights a significant decline in the use of machine voting during Bulgaria's parliamentary elections on June 9. This decline marks a stark contrast to previous elections, where voting technology was a focal point of political discourse and legislative adjustments.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) has announced the mandates for the parliamentary parties in the 50th National Assembly of Bulgaria. GERB will have the most deputies, with a total of 68. The second-largest parliamentary group will be the DPS with 47 deputies, followed by "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) with 39.

On Monday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev will announce the date for convening the first session of the 50th National Assembly. He made this statement to journalists in Kazanlak.

Regarding GERB leader Boyko Borissov's proposal for an expert cabinet, Radev commented:

Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev has urged for the swift establishment of a permanent government to bring stability to the nation.

"Greatness" (Velichie/Величие in Bulgarian) garnered 99,852 votes in the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on June 9, surprising many politicians, sociologists, and journalists. Known figures like "Colonel Markov" and Ivelin Mihailov played key roles.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) reported a 34.41% voter turnout at the end of election day on Sunday, June 9. By 20:00, 2,268,644 people had voted for the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the turnout for the European Parliament elections was slightly lower, with 33.79%, or 2,074,192 voters.

On Sunday, all 31 Regional Election Commissions (RECs) must submit the voting protocols to the Central Election Commission (CEC) for re-verification. The CEC will then announce the final results of the vote for the Bulgarian representatives in the European Parliament on Wednesday, including percentages and allocated mandates.