[ad_1]
At the start of the plenary session on Thursday, the BSP’s breakdowns helped gather a quorum and, in return, gave them more rights in parliament.
Like the day before, when the meeting failed, the Socialists and the MRF did not participate in the registration. The “progressive socialists”, as those who left Ninova’s party called themselves, remained in the room. After the 121 necessary deputies met to begin work, the proposal of the ruptures for changes in the Regulations of the National Assembly, which has the status of law, was included in the Parliament’s agenda.
They demanded that the BSP drop this point, but most rejected their insistence.
Until now, parliamentary rules did not allow independent parliamentarians to form a new parliamentary group or read statements from the parliamentary rostrum. They also did not have time to speak.
However, with the votes of the ruling party, the rules were changed exactly as the “progressive socialists” insisted, who since their secession assured that they would remain a strong opposition to the government. The independent MPs will now be treated almost like a parliamentary group, although they will not be.
Once in a session, a representative of ten or more deputies who are not members of a parliamentary group may speak on issues outside the discussed agenda. This means that independent MPs will have the right to make statements.
Furthermore, when there are more than ten independent MPs, they will have time to speak to the smaller parliamentary group. The requirement of having more than ten has already been fulfilled, only the total number of those who left the BSP is that amount, and in addition to them, the six deputies of “Ataka” are also independent, as is Angel Isaev, who separated of the MRF.
Before voting on the changes, the independent Krassimir Yankov laid out the reasons for the change and announced that “progressive socialists will register at the beginning of the meetings”:
“We define as politically irresponsible a boycott of the normal functioning of the Bulgarian parliament in making decisions of national importance, such as voting on the Bulgarian budget and tax laws.”
During the debates, the BSP accused the ruling party of an agreement to ensure a quorum, and the GERB said yesterday that there was no quorum because there were sick deputies, and blamed the left for “entering into a coalition with the coronavirus.”
“You’re turning the rules into a restaurant napkin. It’s not that they’re being followed.”Christian Vigenin of the BSP addressed the ruling party. According to the deputy, this decision provides the opportunity to create quasi-parliamentary groups and, by supporting it, GERB is trying to “build another crutch.”
“I am sorry that my comrades, whom I respected, are involved in this“he added.
The United Patriots defended the ex-Socialists. “The conscience and conviction of each citizen and deputy is inviolable and cannot be questioned,” said Milen Mihov. He asked his BSP colleagues not to turn the plenary hall into “party courts”.
GERB’s Toma Bikov accused the opposition of taking advantage of the difficult time of the epidemic to sabotage the work of parliament, as there are many absent from the ranks of parliamentary groups who are sick with coronavirus or in quarantine.
“There should be no quorum, no parliamentary session, no early elections and a provisional government of a man who until recently did not believe he had a coronavirus; he is the president of this country, but he is not.”, he said.
Did you find this article helpful?
We are happy if you support the electronic edition Mediapool.bg, so that you can continue to rely on an independent, professional and honest information analysis medium.
Support us
Subscribe to the most important news, analysis and commentary on the day’s events. The newsletter is sent to your email address every day at 18:00.
Subscription
[ad_2]
