The 52nd National Assembly of Bulgaria is scheduled to convene for its inaugural sitting on April 30. President Iliana Iotova issued a decree on April 28, calling the newly elected 240-seat parliament to its first session at 10 am on Thursday. During this sitting, the President is expected to address the newly elected Members of Parliament, according to Iotova’s press service.
The Constitution dictates that the sitting will commence with the oldest MP present. In the 52nd National Assembly, this role belongs to Rumen Milanov of Progressive Bulgaria. Following the opening, the MPs will take the official oath, swearing to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Bulgaria, guiding their actions by the interests of the people.
Subsequently, the MPs will sign the oath documents, after which the Bulgarian and European anthems will be played in the plenary chamber. Traditionally, the parties and coalitions represented in the National Assembly will deliver statements during the inaugural sitting. This will be followed by the election of the National Assembly’s Chair, who will then take charge of the sitting and deliver an address.
The MPs will also elect the Deputy Chairs. The Chair will subsequently announce the formation and leadership of the parliamentary groups. The Central Election Commission (CEC) previously announced the seat distribution for the 52nd National Assembly on April 23, following the early elections on April 19.
Progressive Bulgaria secured 131 seats in the 240-member parliament, while GERB–UDF received 39, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria garnered 37, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms received 21, and Vazrazhdane received 12. The CEC data indicated that 57 of the newly elected MPs are women, and 183 are men. Prior to the sitting, it was reported that Continue the Change proposed a joint parliamentary alliance to Democratic Bulgaria under the banner “A Strong Bulgaria in a Strong Europe,” while maintaining separate parliamentary groups for each entity.
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