Bulgarian Socialist Party

A Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Congress due to result in the election of a new leader on Sunday after Sergey Stanishev has decided to step down.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is to elect its new leader at the 48th Congress of BSP on Sunday.

The congress starts at 11 am at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) in Sofia and the open part of it ends at 3 pm, according to reports of Darik radio.

A total of 29 nominees compete for the post of BSP Chair.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oreshaski's resignation submitted on Wednesday evening.

With a huge majority of 180-8 (8 abstained), they gave green light to the move submitted by Oresharski on Wednesday afternoon.

Georgi Kadiev, known for his usual criticism at decisions of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), has officially become a candidate to head the party.

Kadiev left Parliament and BSP's National Council in June, after a party session dedicated to poor results at the European Parliament elections this year.

If the early elections were held today, six political formations would pass the 4% threshold to enter Bulgaria's Parliament, according to polling agency Sova Haris.

President (2002-2011) Georgi Parvanov's Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) is to hold a national referendum on whether the country should be a presidential republic.

Lawmakers have decided to postpone discussions on budget act amendments proposed by the government, MPs say.

The changes to the 2014 fiscal plan were due to be debated Thursday, but are not included into the agenda as the main ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has announced it opposes them.

No session was held in Parliament on that day as MPs failed to reach quorum.

Outgoing Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin will be the government's nomination to become the next EU Commissioner from the country, ruling party sources say.

Lawmaker Korneliya Ninova has said she is to place her bid for the presidency of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

The senior partner in Bulgaria's government (which is to resign later in July) is to choose its next leader after Sergey Stanishev, who has headed the party since 2000, announced he would step down.

The parliamentary represented parties, minus Ataka, reached an agreement on the priorities in the remaining days of the outgoing parliament and will not boycott its work.