14 July 2009

The elected members of the 41st National Assembly took today an oath to abide by the Constitution, the laws of the country and to be guided by the interests of the people in all their actions.

President Georgi Purvanov, GERB leader Boyko Borisov, His Holiness Patriarch Maxim, representatives of other religious denominations, the Ombudsman of Bulgaria, Mr. Ginyo Ganev, representatives of the judiciary and diplomats attended the first sitting of parliament.

The eldest elected member of parliament, prof. Andrey Pantev (Coalition for Bulgaria) inaugurated the work of the 41st National Assembly.

Leaders of all the parliamentary groups represented in the National Assembly, namely GERB Chair Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Coalition for Bulgaria Head Sergey Stanishev, Movement for Rights and Freedoms Deputy Chairperson Lyutvi Mestan, the Ataka party president Volen Siderov, the co-chairman of the Blue Coalition Martin Dimitrov and Order, Lawfulness and Justice party leader Yane Yanev have addressed the Assembly .

Mrs. Tsetska Tsacheva was elected Speaker of the 41st National Assembly. The first ever woman’s nomination to lead the Bulgarian National Assembly was proposed by GERB parliamentary group and received unanimous support.

The 41st National Assembly will have six deputy chairpersons – one from each parliamentary group, i.e. – Luchezar Ivanov (GERB), Georgi Pirinski (Coalition for Bulgaria), Hristo Bisserov (DPS), Pavel Shopov (Ataka), Ekaterina Mihailova (Blue Coalition) and Atanas Semov (OLJ).