The first session of parliament, which started on November 11, continues today. The MPs will make their ninth attempt to elect a Speaker of the 51st National Assembly. In the eighth attempt, GERB-SDS withdrew the candidacy of Raya Nazaryan for the position of National Assembly Speaker and the nominations of Petar Petrov (Vazrazhdane), Natalia Kiselova (BSP - United Left) and Silvi Kirilov (There is Such a People) were put to a vote. The candidates of BSP - United Left and There is Such a People reached the runoff, but neither of them received enough votes to be elected as a National Assembly Speaker. 87 MPs voted for Natalia Kiselova, 60 MPs voted against and 90 MPs abstained. 99MPs voted for Silvi Kirilov, 115 MPs voted against his nomination and 23 MPs abstained.

"Politicians do not understand the idea of a runoff – whoever gets more votes should win the position'', mathematician and political observer Mihail Konstantinov told public service broadcaster BNT.

The inability of the MPs to reach an agreement has blocked the work of the legislature for over a month following the parliamentary elections, which were held on October 27.

• Eighth failure of the parliament to elect speaker

  
  

• Premier Glavchev is concerned about the adoption of the budget due to the blocked parliament