Romania's Elena Lasconi Calls for Pro-European Unity Ahead of Presidential Run-Off
The Constitutional Court of Romania has upheld the results of the first round of the presidential election held on November 24
Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev expressed confidence that the Bulgarian caretaker government has fulfilled its obligations to ensure fair elections. He emphasized that all duties were performed "with hand on heart," adding that a report from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also supports this view, and it is available to the public. Glavchev reiterated his hope for a regular, stable government to emerge from this election, and noted the caretaker government’s ongoing collaboration with the European Commission on the Recovery and Sustainability Plan.
In contrast, Vice President Iliana Yotova voiced concerns over the recent elections, saying they did little to build public trust in the electoral process. Speaking from Veliko Tarnovo, Yotova commented on the prevalence of alleged vote-buying and expressed doubt about the likelihood of a stable government forming from the newly elected 51st National Assembly. She congratulated the election winners but warned them of the difficult task ahead in assembling a new cabinet, reiterating the need for a strong political government for Bulgaria. She added that it will be up to the parliamentary parties to determine whether this government will take the form of a minority administration or a multi-party coalition, cautioning that any alternative approach would be an avoidance of responsibility.
Yotova also rejected calls from some political figures to raise the parliamentary entry threshold beyond the current 4%. She questioned the motivation behind these proposals, suggesting they may be more reactionary than strategically calculated. “Bulgaria is a multi-party democracy,” she noted, suggesting that a system resembling the two-party American model is unlikely for the country.
The new Speaker of the National Assembly, Natalia Kiselova, has scheduled an extraordinary parliamentary session for December 10 at 1:00 p.m.
After ten failed attempts to elect a speaker, Bulgaria's parliament finally reached a decision, appointing Assoc. Prof. Natalia Kiselova from the "BSP - United Left"
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, has signaled a potential shift in strategy following unexpected developments in the ongoing attempts to form a government and elect a Speaker of the National Assembly
For the tenth consecutive time, the National Assembly failed to elect a Speaker
Bulgaria's Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the government has approved the provision of additional military assistance to Ukraine, as part of its ongoing support
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
Bulgaria Ranks Second in the Balkans at Paris 2024 Olympics, 26th Overall
Bulgaria Leads Europe in Heat-Related Deaths in Record-Breaking 2023