Kiril Petkov

Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov has submitted a request to the 51st National Assembly to lift the parliamentary immunity of MP Kiril Petkov. The request, initiated by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SGP), stems from an ongoing investigation into allegations that Petkov, during his tenure as Prime Minister, exceeded his authority.

An unprecedented tenth attempt to elect a speaker for Bulgaria's 51st National Assembly is set to take place today, as the political deadlock continues. The first session of the Assembly began on November 11, but MPs have been unable to agree on a leader.

In recent months, Bulgarian politics have been marked by tension and instability, fueled by the deepening rifts between key political figures and parties. These divisions center around the so-called "Peevski model," a reference to the influence of controversial political figure Delyan Peevski, who has been a polarizing presence in the country's political arena.

Kiril Petkov, co-chairman of "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), has accused Boyko Borissov of intentionally delaying the start of the Bulgarian parliament.

Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, confirmed that his party will vote exclusively for Raya Nazaryan as Speaker of Parliament. Speaking to the media, he emphasized that the decision was made at GERB's municipal meetings and by the Executive Committee, reflecting the party's collective stance.

"We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB) announced their decision to support "There Is Such a People" (TISP)'s proposal to temporarily appoint the oldest member of parliament, Silvi Kirilov, as Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament. The coalition leaders stated they would withdraw their candidate, Andrey Tsekov, and called on other political formations to do the same.

Kiril Petkov, co-chair of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), issued a direct challenge to GERB leader Boyko Borissov, urging him to choose between allegiance to Bulgaria or Delyan Peevski. Petkov warned that if Borissov remains influenced by Peevski, negotiations between their parties would be unfeasible.

Nikolai Denkov, former Prime Minister of Bulgaria, asserted on bTV that the electoral success of GERB and "DPS-New Beginning" is largely attributed to bought and controlled votes. He highlighted reports of vote-buying and threats directed at mayors, indicating widespread misconduct across the country.

The 50th National Assembly of Bulgaria concluded its final session in a chaotic atmosphere, marked by physical confrontations and a failure to secure a quorum. Political groups "Revival" (Vazrazhdane) and "There Is Such a People" (TISP) blocked parliamentary proceedings, aiming to halt amendments related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Maritsa Iztok power plant.

The Bulgarian National Assembly swiftly reacted to the news of Albania and North Macedonia being separated on their paths to EU membership. Brussels' decision to greenlight Albania's negotiations while pausing those for North Macedonia sparked immediate responses from Bulgaria's parliamentary leaders.