Elena Yoncheva

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader vessel, which had been held for over a year following its hijacking off the Yemeni coast. According to reports from Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, the crew was freed as part of efforts to support the recently signed ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement in Gaza.

Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva has won her case against Bulgaria at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, which ruled that the Bulgarian prosecutor's office violated her presumption of innocence when it publicly announced charges against her. The court found that the prosecutor's office violated her rights and ordered Bulgaria to pay her compensation.

The leader of "DPS - New Beginning", Delyan Peevski, has called for Bulgaria's caretaker government and National Assembly to authorize MEP Elena Yoncheva to negotiate the release of Bulgarian sailors detained on the ship Galaxy Leader. His appeal was issued in an official statement from the party's press center.

A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the crew of the "Galaxy Leader" for the second time since the ship was hijacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels, as reported by the Associated Press.

Former journalist and current MEP, Elena Yoncheva, met with the two Bulgarian sailors from the ship Galaxy Leader, who have been held by the Houthis since November of last year, according to a press release. Yoncheva traveled from Sana'a to Al Hudaydah and was able to meet the sailors, Lubomir Chanev and Danail Veselinov, outside the ship in a secure location arranged by the Houthis.

Only 27% of the members in the 50th Bulgarian Parliament are women, but this marks an increase in their numbers. The "Greatness" party has the highest share of women at 46%, while "There Is Such a People" (TISP) has the smallest at 18%. On June 9, 2024, the regular European Parliament elections and the sixth early parliamentary elections in three years were held.

Following the 2-in-1 elections in Bulgaria, the Central Election Commission (CEC) has finalized the mandates for the European Parliament. Notably, Rosen Zhelyazkov from GERB and Jevdet Chakarov and Iskra Mihailova from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) declined their positions as MEPs.

The Bulgarian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) adopted a decision distributing the mandates from the European Parliament vote among the participating parties. GERB will be represented by five MEPs, while the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), and "Revival" each send three deputies to the European Parliament.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) in Blagoevgrad has nominated Elena Yoncheva as a candidate for the European Parliament, sparking intense debate and speculation.

Amid the implementation of measures under the European Union's Green Deal, 64% of Bulgarians have identified the escalating electricity prices as their top concern. This revelation stems from a recent study commissioned by MEP Sergey Stanishev, conducted by "Trend" and surveying the adult population of the country from January 17th to 24th.