There Is Such A People

Members of the Bulgarian Parliament have decided against introducing mandatory blood tests for alcohol and drug use, following a vote that resulted in 61 in favor, 62 against, and 86 abstentions. The proposal had initially been accepted by the Temporary Committee drafting the parliamentary rules, with the exception of the WCC-DB group, but it was rejected in the chamber without debate.

Update: the proposal has been rejected:

Bulgaria's parliament rejects mandatory drug and alcohol testing for MPs

GERB has invited three political formations—Democratic Bulgaria (DB), the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), and There Is Such a People (TISP)—to engage in "expert conversations" aimed at forming a government. The invitations were sent with a proposal for the meetings to take place at a mutually convenient time next week.

Consultations between the President and representatives of the parliamentary group "There is Such a People" (TISP) continued as part of the discussions surrounding the formation of a regular government.

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.

The eighth attempt to elect a Speaker of the 51st National Assembly has once again failed, with neither candidate securing the necessary votes. In the latest session, Natalia Kiselova, nominated by "BSP - United Left", received 87 votes in favor, 60 against, and 90 abstentions. She was primarily supported by the GERB party and the left-wing factions.

GERB has decided to withdraw the candidacy of Raya Nazaryan for the position of Speaker of the National Assembly, as announced by the party leader Boyko Borissov.

Following today's vote for the Speaker of the National Assembly, "We Continue the Change" (WCC) demanded the resignations of Daniel Lorer and Yavor Bozhankov. By decision of the party's Executive Council, Daniel Lorer was expelled from the party and all its bodies.

The Bulgarian parliament has entered its 18th day without electing a speaker, marking a historic impasse in the 51st National Assembly. On the seventh attempt to resolve the deadlock, lawmakers failed to reach a consensus, despite multiple rounds of voting and various consultations among political factions.

Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, declined to reveal his party's plans for resolving Bulgaria's political crisis, responding to reporters in the National Assembly with a firm, "I won't tell you." Borissov expressed dissatisfaction with former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, criticizing his interview earlier in the day on Nova TV.