Bulgaria: Coalition proving challenging in fractured parliament after election

Bulgaria's former prime minister Boyko Borissov said on Tuesday his centre-right GERB party would seek talks with political rivals in attempting to form a government. But this may pose a significant challenge after an election that offered no clear vision of what the coalition could look like.

The joint list of GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) and SDS (Union of Democratic Forces) won the October 2 election with 25.3 percent of the vote, but the distribution of seats may produce a hung parliament.

The election was the fourth in two years and if GERB-SDS fails to form a stable government, Bulgaria will face the risk of yet another snap poll as the country seeks to contain the impact of Europe's energy crisis and surging inflation amid war in Ukraine.

Bulgaria: Coalition proving challenging in fractured parliament after election -0
Source: ITN

Borissov’s main rivals, the reformist, anti-graft parties We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, as well as the Socialists, have all ruled out coalition talks with GERB, which they blame for allowing corruption to fester during its decade-long rule that ended in 2021.

Former prime minister Kiril Petkov's We Continue the Change party is the second biggest after GERB-SDS, with 20.2 percent. 

“I urge everybody to reflect and try to see how things will look after two or three months. I am ready for all kinds of compromises and concessions in the name of the people,” Borissov said in his first public comment after Sunday's election. He also said that would be willing to give up pursuing the position of prime minister or even a minister in the government, if that was what was needed to have a functioning coalition.

“GERB remains in political isolation. The prospects for such a government are not great. And after his rivals shunned him, early polls look much more likely,” said Dobromir Zhivkov, a political analyst with independent pollster Market Links, and one of many voices that remain sceptical about Borissov's chances of building a coalition government.

Borissov said he believed the parties could find common ground over the war in Ukraine.

Bulgaria is a member of NATO and the European Union, but has had historically close ties with Russia. These ties have, however, steadily deteriorated, especially following Russia's February 24 invasion of Ukraine. Together with Poland, Bulgaria became the first EU member to see its gas supplies cut by Russia's Gazprom. 

Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights
Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights

According to Nautilus International, the Employment Rights Bill is expected to introduce new protections specifically devised for seafarers, toughening the laws around collective dismissal, and cementing seafarer wage protections in UK law. The Bill, being introduced to Parliament this week, will seek to outlaw fire and rehire by requiring employers to prove there is no reasonable financial alternative to letting staff go.

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast
Parliaments

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast

Canada’s Senate has approved a new law, named bill C-49, which is set to unlock the country’s offshore renewable energy potential in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, on Canada’s Atlantic coast. The bill, which includes the production of wind power as well as hydrogen, now awaits royal ascent.

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education
Parliaments

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education

California Nurses Association, the largest union of registered nurses in the state, applauds the signing of Senate Bill 1015 by Governor Gavin Newsom. Nurses say the new law, which was authored by Senator Dave Cortese and sponsored by CNA, is an essential step towards ensuring clinical placement opportunities for California’s future nurses, particularly for students attending public institutions like community colleges and state universities.

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language
Parliaments

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to designate Seychelles Deaf Language as an official national language, marking a significant milestone for the islands' hearing-impaired populationin. The motion was brought forward by Regina Esparon, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member for Glacis, on behalf of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, coinciding with the Deaf Week 2024.

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours
Parliaments

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours

Disposable vapes will be banned and vape flavours and colours restricted under new legislation proposed by the government. The Department of Health yesterday published the general scheme of the proposed Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill, which will introduce further restrictions on nicotine inhaling products or vapes.

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law
Parliaments

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law

Brasília urges the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could potentially impact Brazil’s exports by almost US$15 billion. The European legislation passed in 2022 includes a ban on the import of products from areas deforested from 2022 onwards, even if deforestation is legal in those areas. 

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property
Parliaments

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property

The UK Parliament has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill today to officially and legally recognize Bitcoin $57,732.86, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets as personal property. This new law will, for the first time, formally protect digital assets such as Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and carbon credits under English law, News.Az reports citing Cointurk news.