Physical clashes between MPs of MRF and "Vazrazhdane", Parliament began work despite a new blockade

• Clashes between MPs from MRF and "Vazrazhdane" during the extraordinary sitting of Bulgaria’s Parliament on December 18.
• An MP from "Vazrazhdane" claims he was threatened with murder by an MP from the MRF.
• However, the MPs continued their work and adopted, without debate, the early abolition of the derogation for Lukoil and the abolition of the transit fee for Russian gas.
• The MPs adopted at second reading the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund and the budget of the Social Insurance Fund.

MPs ended the derogation for Lukoil and removed the fee for Russian gas transit

This morning, "Vazrazhdane" tried again to block the work of the Parliament. Their MPs stood around the parliamentary rostrum and blocked it.

The majority, however, found a way to work despite the blockade - by making speeches from the floor on a portable microphone. So the MPs started work by discussing the Lukoil derogation.

In a sign of dissatisfaction, “Vazrazhdane” dismantled some of the speakers so that the speeches could not be heard in the chamber. Yordan Tsonev and Delyan Peevski of MRF tried to prevent the dismantling and got into verbal skirmishes with the representatives of "Vazrazhdane".

It came to physical clashes, in which more MPs from both groups got involved.

Ivelin Parvanov, MP from "Vazrazhdane", said that he had been threatened with murder by Mario Angelov, MP from the MRF.

"MPs have no immunity for a crime of a general nature. You are within your rights to take all measures and procedures," Parliament Speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov replied.

Images by BTA and BNT

Despite the tension, the work in the plenary did not stop. With 144 votes in favour, the Parliament introduced a ban on the export of fuels produced from Russian oil from 1 January, and from 1 March, Lukoil's work with Russian oil is banned.

The MPs also decided to abolish the 20 BGN per megawatt hour fee on the import and transit of Russian natural gas.

With 143 votes, the Parliament decided to increase the capital of Kozloduy NPP by BGN 1.5 billion in order to build the 7th and 8th units at site No. 2 using AR1000 technology.

The lawmakers also gave final approval to the 2024 budget of the National Health Insurance Fund. The budget of the Health Insurance Fund includes BGN 8 billion. More funds than this year - by about 20% - are planned for pre-hospital care, preventive care and dental activities.

After the tension in the plenary chamber, "Vazrazhdane" said they would not stop until the dismantling of the Soviet Army Monument stops. The party again called for the resignation of Sofia Governor Vyara Todeva. Kostadin Kostadinov, the chairman of "Vazrazhdane", explained to the media the motives for the actions of the parliamentary group.

"This is the way when laws are trampled. What we are doing is what our voters sent us here to do - to defend their rights. The bad thing is that if we do what we promised our constituents, others do it because they promised it to foreign embassies," Kostadinov said.

MRF party chairman, Delyan Peevski, said the National Assembly would continue to work and "we will not give in to the pressure of some "ridiculous terrorists".

"Everything is being adopted - you saw today how many important decisions - the gas transit fee was dropped, so that we can enter Schengen, the decision on nuclear energy for Westinghouse's units 7 and 8 was adopted so that Bulgaria will have electricity and everything should be ok in the country. The National Assembly will work, colleagues. Be calm, we will not succumb to the pressure of some "ridiculous terrorists", said Delyan Peevski - chairman of the MRF group.

The socialist party BSP distanced itself from the actions of "Vazrazhdane", but pointed out that they could not agree with the actions of the majority in the plenary.

"This is a plan to mutually pump up the forces of the nationalists and MRF. And we have even already seen headlines "Ethnic peace under threat" etc. This, Bulgarian citizens, is a deception for you. It is not about opposition activity at all. The big issue for us is the dictatorship imposed by the ruling majority and creeping fascism. The only way out of what is happening here is the resignation of this majority," said BSP chairperson, Kornelia Ninova.

"He who sows winds reaps storms," GERB leader Boyko Borissov said. In his view, the way the Soviet Army Monument is being moved "abounds in stupidity" and today's reaction of the opposition is equally "inadequate".

"When you raise your fists and go against a regularly elected government and parties - the conclusion, the result - here it is in this hall. Bulgarians have said it very well - "He who sows winds reaps storms in the end". Not a single absolutely correct action to move, dismantle the monument was done properly and abounded in stupidity - let me use the mildest word. Today the response in Parliament is just as inadequate and just as insulting to Parliament itself," Borissov said.