The public debate on the bill for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the Istanbul Convention, organized by National Assembly President Tsveta Karayancheva, ended up as a clash of polarized opinions, with neither side showing any willingness to alter their stance.
The debate was joined by MPs, representatives of the executive, of NGOs, the principal religious denominations as well as experts. Before that, the document split parliament down the middle. GERB firmly supports the document, while the United Patriots and the Bulgarian Socialist Party are against, as is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The opponents of the Convention allege it will lead up to the introduction of the so-called “gender ideology” in Bulgarian legislation – the blurring the notion of “sex” by introducing a socially rather than biologically based definition, and will prepare the ground for demands for the recognition of the so-called “third sex” and same-sex marriage.
The Council of Europe has urged Bulgaria to ratify the Convention, as did EC Vice-President Frans Timmermans during his visit to Sofia on Monday.
"It is important for us to stand firm and instill confidence in our European partners, and this frequent change of governments, frequent elections, does not send a good signal", Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth..
President Rumen Radev is to hand the second governing-forming mandate next week. ''I expect We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) to clearly state whether they will be an opposition or will seek support for forming a government'',..
Caretaker Premier Dimitar Glavchev said from Washington that he did not know why the president had not yet announced a date for handing over the second exploratory mandate to form a government. "Surely, President Rumen Radev has some considerations..
The European Commission has approved state aid amounting to EUR 142 million (BGN 278 million) to support the energy sector, BNR’s correspondent in..
13 bands from abroad will perform on the big stage of the 4 th edition of Midalidare - Rock in the Wine Valley , 12-14 July, alongside the..
President Rumen Radev is to hand the second governing-forming mandate next week. ''I expect We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) to..
+359 2 9336 661