MPs fail again to elect speaker

Newly-elected Bulgarian MPs have again failed to elect a speaker for the 51st National Assembly. Just as in the first parliamentary session, of the five candidates nominated, Raya Nazaryan of GERB-SDS and Andrei Tsekov of "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" (PP-DB) made it to the run-off, but neither received enough votes.

Only GERB-SDS MPs voted for Raya Nazaryan, while Andrei Tsekov received votes from the PP-DB, the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and the MECH party.

Provisional Speaker Silvi Kirilov, the most senior MP in Parliament, then suspended the session. He announced that a third attempt would be made on Friday.

The work of the National Assembly cannot begin until a speaker is elected.