Ninth attempt to elect speaker of parliament fails

Lawmakers gathered on Wednesday to make yet another, ninth, attempt to elect a Speaker of the 51st National Assembly, which would have allowed Parliament to begin its work. Four candidates were put to a first vote - Atanas Atanasov of We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), Natalia Kiselova of BSP-United Left, Petar Petrov of Vazrazhdane and Silvi Kirilov of the There is One People's Party (ITN).

Natalia Kiselova and Silvi Kirilov again reached the run-off. However, neither received 50% of the votes of those present + 1, i.e. 120 votes, and both nominations were rejected.

On Thursday 5 December, MEPs will make their 10th attempt to elect a President.

The legislature has been deadlocked since 11 November.