Raya Nazaryan

Raya Nazaryan has assumed the role of Speaker of the 50th National Assembly with the backing of GERB, DPS, and "There Is Such a People" (TISP), securing 131 votes in favor, while 66 were against and 39 abstained. Her election followed two days of negotiations and procedural delays.

Today marks the second day of the inaugural session of the 50th National Assembly, after failing to elect a speaker yesterday. Raya Nazaryan's candidacy garnered support from GERB, DPS, and Hristo Prodanov of BSP, totaling 116 votes initially. However, Prodanov voted "against" in the second round.

Raya Nazaryan, nominated by GERB, failed to secure enough votes in two rounds of voting to become the Speaker of Bulgaria's 50th Parliament. In the initial round, she garnered 116 votes in favor, while 69 deputies opposed her candidacy and 53 abstained.

We followed the voting live, read more here.

Update:  follow the latest developments here

Update: None of the candidates secured the required votes in the initial round of voting for Speaker of the Parliament. With 238 deputies present, the majority needed was 120.

Petar Petrov from "Revival" garnered support solely from his own party, receiving 38 votes.

Boyko Borissov, the leader of GERB, announced that forming a government is currently not feasible. Raya Nazaryan is being proposed for the Speaker of the Parliament, and today's vote on her candidacy will determine the continuation of negotiations with other parties. Borissov emphasized that the vote will reveal whether a government can be formed in this parliament.

Negotiations between GERB and DPS to form a government began after a delay caused by disputes over seating arrangements in the plenary hall. Contrary to expectations, Delyan Peevski, co-chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), did not participate, in line with Boyko Borissov's decision not to lead the talks personally.

GERB has issued invitations for meetings with the parties entering the 50th National Assembly to discuss societal issues and the potential support for a new government that will share responsibility for managing Bulgaria. GERB representatives Denitsa Sacheva, Raya Nazaryan, and Temenuzka Petkova will lead the negotiations.

The first session of Bulgaria's newly elected 50th National Assembly will convene at 9:00 a.m. on June 19, 2024, as announced by President Rumen Radev through a decree based on Article 75 of the Constitution. According to the president's press office, this session marks a significant political event following the recent parliamentary elections.

Boyko Borissov announced that GERB will begin negotiations for an expert cabinet and majority starting Monday. He insists that the government will only be formed with the first mandate, dominated by his party, and that the prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister must be from GERB. Borissov himself will not run for prime minister to facilitate the negotiations.

For the first time since the potential return of Boyko Borissov as prime minister became a central theme in Bulgaria's election campaign, a GERB representative explicitly stated: "Regular government with Boyko Borissov as prime minister."