Rumen Gechev

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.

In a contentious session, Parliament has decisively voted against proposed amendments to the Gambling Act aimed at restricting the advertisement of gambling activities. The amendments, put forth by Kostadin Kostadinov of the Revival party, were met with a resounding 67-29 vote rejection, accompanied by 79 abstentions.

The Bulgarian Parliament has ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the United States on cooperation regarding the construction of nuclear power at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site and the Nuclear Program for civil purposes of Bulgaria.

Bulgaria's Defense Minister, Todor Tagarev, has highlighted the country's significant prospects in drone manufacturing during an interview with Nova TV. Tagarev emphasized that although Bulgaria currently produces limited quantities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) specifically for military operations, there exists substantial potential in this sector.

Director General of the National Statistical Institute Sergey Tsvetarski requested to postpone the start of census in Bulgaria owing to the epidemic situation, BGNEs reported.

"There is no way for the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) to vote for a budget that would sink the Bulgarian economy," This is what Prof. Rumen Gechev, floor leader of „BSP for Bulgaria" told the Bulgarian National Radio.

Prof. Gechev noted that a huge part of the Bulgarian citizens and firms are not protected.

Parliament will discuss in detail the issues related to government debt management and its commitment to GDP.

This will be at the request of the Socialists, and the Chief of Parliament Tsveta Karayanchena scheduled the discussion for next Friday.

Bulgaria’s National Health Insurance Fund, NZOK, has been granted an additional BGN 225 M to keep the state-run fund afloat by the end of the year.

Last Saturday the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), GERB and the Central Bank wanted to temporarily suspend the operations of all banks in Bulgaria, said Rumen Gechev.