Stalemate in Bulgaria's National Assembly raises risk of new elections

Sofia, June 19, 2024 - Bulgaria's 50th National Assembly convened today but was promptly adjourned after failing to elect a speaker in its inaugural session. The session saw multiple rounds of voting, with none of the candidates reaching the required majority of 119 votes.

Boiko Borissov, leader of the GERB-UDF coalition, expressed dissatisfaction, emphasizing that forming a government would only proceed if supported by the three largest parliamentary groups: GERB-UDF, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), and We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB).

The impasse reflects Bulgaria's political fragmentation, with various parties unable to agree on a Speaker, a critical first step in government formation. Borissov warned of the potential for new elections if a broad coalition cannot be formed to ensure stability and governance.

The sitting will resume tomorrow morning amid tensions and uncertainty about the path forward in Bulgaria's turbulent political landscape.