Parties deliver opening statements in the new National Assembly

“Fate has destined us to make important decisions to preserve peace and the lives of Bulgarian citizens”, said MP Petar Vitanov from “Progressive Bulgaria”, who delivered the opening speech in the country’s new 52nd National Assembly.

“We must be united. We must not allow Bulgaria to be used in global conflicts. Our international positions must take into account the interests and will of the Bulgarian people. I would like to calm the fearmongers who suggest that Bulgaria may drift away from Europe. They themselves know that they do this only to give meaning to their political existence. Bulgaria is fully integrated into the EU, but the Union is not immune to mistakes, and we must state our position”, the MP stressed.

Today, the dilemma facing the full majority of “Progressive Bulgaria” is either unpopular right-wing reforms or failure, said MP Toma Bikov from GERB-SDS. He read the party’s opening declaration from the rostrum of the 52nd National Assembly.

“Over the past 12 years, Bulgaria has been governed by coalition governments, and in the last five years the country has sunk into a chronic political crisis and an inability to form a stable government”, Toma Bikov went on to say, adding that GERB–SDS would act as a right-conservative and constructive opposition.

“The leading political force has secured a majority and can govern with clear responsibility. This is a mandate with a paramount task set by the protests that brought down the previous government—the dismantling of the ‘Borissov–Peevski model’. It turns the state into a system of dependencies”, said Nadezhda Yordanova from “Yes, Bulgaria!”.

“The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) will fulfil its role as a responsible and constructive opposition. We will support any policy that defends people’s rights and freedoms. At the same time, we will be a consistent and principled corrective where there is a deviation from the principles of good governance”, said MP Ayten Sabri on behalf of DPS.

“We are here to speak, to ensure that the voice of truth is heard, and to serve as the awakened conscience of the nation.” This was declared from the parliamentary rostrum by Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Vazrazhdane party.

He stated that his party would work toward restoring the Bulgarian lev, arguing that the country’s growing indebtedness is the result of Bulgaria having been, in his words, “forcibly pushed” into the eurozone.

Kostadinov also underscored what he described as the state’s responsibility for the country’s demographic crisis.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov