December 3 (BTA) - Bulgaria's new Parliament held its inaugural sitting on Friday. The session was broadcast live on the national radio and television. Many online news outlets too provided live updates and reports from the ongoing session.

Following are highlights from the opening statements of the seven political formations represented in the 47th National Assembly.

Continue the Change co-leader Kiril Petkov:

It is time for Bulgaria to see young people coming back and old people living in dignity. It is time for innovation, investments and competitiveness, time to put a new meaning in the words "national representative" as a person who represents not just their electorate but the whole people.

"It is our duty to serve the Bulgarian people, a proud people with a great history, in the most beautiful part of the world. Many MPs did not do a good job for far too long and now Bulgaria is faced with huge challenges."

Nearly two million Bulgarians have opted to live abroad. In every square where Contine the Change met with voters, they said through tears: "Please bring young people back." Forty-two per cent of those old people live on the poverty line, while over 40 per cent of their grandchildren in Bulgaria failed their maths and Bulgarian language tests in Year 4.

Petkov talked about what he referred to as long-neglected projects including hospitals, a bridge over the Danube, a tunnel between Northern and Southern Bulgaria, an unrepaired dam in Northwestern Bulgaria and the Hemus Motorway, asking: "Where were the MPs who were to solve these problems? The answer is: greed, selfishness and irresponsibility, shown by many of them."

The Rolls-Royces and Ferraris running on Bulgaria's potholed roads do not belong to successful business leaders but to people who spend the public's taxes as if they are their own. Those are corrupt lobbyists with no genuine business. This must stop now. "Each of us MPs should say: I want to be a part of change, we will solve these problems. We should all say: it is time for zero tolerance of corruption, time for zero tolerance of theft, time for real justice."

GERB-UDF

Dessislava Atanassova: We should be aware that this Parliament's configuration is much more the result of voting against than of voting in favour. It is not clear how many Bulgarians were deprived of the right to vote by machine voting and the repressive measures taken by the caretaker cabinet. Any illusion that someone has won a landslide victory and that it allows them to dictate the rules will be crushed by reality. Hopefully, we will all start to cope with the country's complicated situation humbly and responsibly enough.

The big task facing the 47th National Assembly is to bring back the country into its rhythm of normal development and restore dialogue between the institutions.

GERB-UDF's priorities in the new Parliament are related to investments, accelerated growth and helping businesses. "We will demand that every penny of the government debt be spent wisely and accounted for. We will stand against increasing people's incomes by taking out loans," Atanassova said, explaining that her Parliamentary Group's first draft resolution will be to impose a moratorium on additional government debt until there is a regular government.

She said that the possible new government can rely on GERB's expertise and experience as far as next year's budget is concerned, which should start being discussed right now.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF)

Leader Mustafa Karadayi: The MRF Parliamentary Group will work for restoring normalcy in politics. The crises led to elections, [in turn] the elections led to and deepened the crises. The new Parliament's work should be based on constructive political dialogue. The unconditional responsibility with which we are burdened is to stop the crisis and start solving the problems.  

Bulgaria must "do its homework" as soon as possible when it comes to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, operational programmes and a pursuant state budget, he said.

According to Karadayi, the political crisis must be addressed by forming a regular cabinet, recalling his party's idea from a year ago for an expert cabinet.

"We warn that not a single crisis will be resolved sustainably if we don't find the right algorithm for solving the COVID-19 pandemic. Bulgaria is losing the battle with the pandemic due to the Executive's irresponsible attitude, especially over the past year," Karadayi said, adding that Bulgaria has lost more people over the past three months than during WWII. MRF proposes that everyone, those in power and in opposition, work together on the measures for tackling and resolving the COVID-19 crisis.
   
He once again accused caretaker Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov of exerting pressure and committing crimes against people's voting rights  with the excuse of fighting vote-buying.  
 
BSP for Bulgaria

Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Kornelia Ninova: The parliamentary group has three priorities. The first one is to start the real change of the governance model, to restore statehood and the constitutional principles of the separation of powers, the rule of law, justice, equality, liberty and peace. Second, Bulgaria and the Bulgarians must be delivered from the crises by caring for the people. Third, Bulgaria should pursue a proactive, pro-European foreign policy as an equal partner of the other EU Member States towards an accelerated adoption of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and progress on the operational programmes.

"We must cope with a health, a social and an economic and energy crisis at the same time. We must show common sense and wisdom to prevent a fourth, political crisis. Care for the people comes first. We want to take care of people, we will make an effort to form a stable majority and a Parliament-elected government. We are ready with a programme for the first 100 days."

The adoption of the 2022 State budget is the top priority. The BSP is ready with a specific anti-lobbyist legislative revision. Curbing corruption, implementing judicial reform and e-government are other priorities. The new cabinet will have to deal with the rising prices of goods and electricity and to ensure the stability of hospitals. Pensioners remain the Socialist Party's priority.

Turning to the parties which are expected to form the future cabinet, Ninova said: "You can rely on BSP for Bulgaria being predictable and sensible."

There Is Such a People (TISP)

TISP's Parliamentary Group will do everything possible so that a government is formed and Parliament completes its full term, said Lyubomir Karimanski in a
declaration.

"Let us offer people a genuine and tangible change, let us show accord, decent conduct, and industriousness. TISP will work for minimizing corruption and new rules in politics which will bring genuine freedom to the people of Bulgaria. The MPs should harness all of their constructive might and offer society a change," he said.

There are two ways to fight ignorance, corruption and the small-minded shrewd people who have taken over the State to their own benefit - the first one is through the law and the second one is by force. The first is inherent to mankind and the second one - to animals, he said.

According to him, the time has come for people with dignity, honesty, skills, knowledge and experience to join their efforts and address the pressing problems, while ignoring and containing their ego. "We must stop excusing ourselves and start acting, make things happen," he said.  

Democratic Bulgaria

Co-leader Hristo Ivanov: In addition to the difficulties it faces, Bulgaria has many reasons to hope. Many things were said about the crises, difficulties and challenges we face, [but] I wish to say a few words about hope. Changes are happening and new opportunities are being presented. The restoration process through new models and along new paths allows Bulgaria to shorten the distance that has separated it from the most developed of societies. Taking this leap forward should be set as the objective.   

Democratic Bulgaria will contribute to the formation of a government, he said, adding that the details surrounding this process will depend on the negotiations. Ivanov said he will not serve as a minister in the new cabinet.

Faith in the parliamentary republic, fiscal sense and restrain is very important in times of transformation and inflation, he said.

Ivanov listed the judicial and constitutional reform, and the introduction of e-government as being among Democratic Bulgaria's main priorities. He that Democratic Bulgaria will uphold Bulgaria's geopolitical orientation towards the EU and NATO, with the goal of joining the eurozone.

Vazrazhdane

Leader Kostadin Kostadinov: Bulgaria needs people who can protect its national interests, the people deserve new leaders. As promised during the election campaign, Vazrazhdane will fight against the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, against foreign military bases in Bulgaria and for preventing North Macedonia from joining the EU. Kostadinov said that he and his colleagues will work to limit foreign influence on Bulgaria. He stressed the need to curb the demographic crisis, create efficient social policies and fair wages.

The party is against the introduction of green certificates allowing vaccinated people access to certain venues, as well as against the wearing of face masks. It is also against mandatory vaccination and the Green Deal and in favour of keeping the thermal power plants and building a nuclear power plant in Belene (on the Danube).  

At the end of his speech, Kostadinov quoted parts of the epic poem "September", written by Bulgarian poet Geo Milev.

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The seven formations in the new Parliament appointed their floor leaders, who are as follows:

Continue the Change: Andrey Gyurov
GERB-UDF: Dessislava Atanassova
MRF: Mustafa Karadayi
BSP for Bulgaria: Kornelia Ninova
TISP: Toshko Yordanov
Democratic Bulgaria: Hristo Ivanov
Vazrazhdane: Kostadin Kostadinov.
DD, ZH, MY