The First Session of the New Parliament Has Come to an End

published on 12/18/09 1:15 PM

Photo: BGNES

During their first session MPs of the Bulgarian 41st National Assembly worked in the plenary hall for approximately 235 hours. In this period of time 55 bills were passed 95 resolutions were adopted and 3 statements were passed. Among the bills are the 2010 state budget, the budgets of the National Health Insurance Fund and the State Social Security Fund. During the first session of the 41st Parliament 35 hours were devoted to the contol function of parliament, i.e. question time. The largest number of questions were addressed to Finance Minister Simeon Djankov (43), Regional Development Minister Rosen Plevneliev (42) and Economy Minister Traicho Traikov (36).

Opening an exhibition of photos illustrating the work during the first parliamentary session National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva said that in its first session the 41st National Assembly introduced a more expedient and open style of work. The National Assembly Chair also said that parliamentary sittings will be broadcast on the Internet soon. Cases of voting with cards of absent MPs were isolated, she pointed out.

They will be impossible after January 10, when a biometric voting system will be installed, Tsetska Tsacheva said. These measures of discipline are not for their own sake and despite some statements that they are near to limiting MPs’ rights I think that more discipline on their part enjoys positive assessment on the part of the people and it is in unison with the commitments of the ruling party GERB, unquote.

Tsetska Tsacheva said that the international activity of the National Assembly has given the opportunity for Bulgaria to undertake its role in the international institutions, which corresponds to a EU member country. She added that on January 11th 2010 a parliamentary delegation will visit Brussles and together with the Bulgarian Members of the European Parliament /MEPs/ and the new President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek they will discuss the rights and obligations of the Bulgarian National Assembly in the context of the Lisbon Treaty. Tsacheva also commented on the decrease of public confidence in the 41st National Assembly. According to her, it stemmed from the unpopular measures the Bulgarian Parliament passed for tackling the economic crisis.

We will continue to fulfill the programme declaration of the government, voting for the many concrete policies in draft normative acts. We will continue to stick to this dynamic and open style of work we have shown in the first session, Tsetska Tsacheva – Chair of the Bulgarian Parliament, said in conclusion.

English version Paulia Bojkova

По публикацията работи: Iliana Raicheva

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The First Session of the New Parliament Has Come to an End

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