The Members of the 45th National Assembly officially swore in the name of the Republic of Bulgaria to observe the Constitution and the laws of the country and in all their actions to be guided by the interests of the people.

Five MPs who had been placed under mandatory isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19 were sworn in remotely electronically.

The oldest MP Mika Zaykova opened the first session of the newly elected 45th National Assembly and expressed her hope to bring good luck. She noted that Bulgaria has been through many tribulations and fateful events, but has always resurrected because our wise people have found the right path to resurrection. “Our people have told us many times where we are wrong, have told the truth whether in protests, whether in referendums or elections,” Mika Zaykova pointed out. “But on April 4 they sent us here, in this hall, with a single instruction – a change that will take Bulgaria out of all the last places in the EU,” added the MP. “Because I and, I hope, you want to see in the eyes of the Bulgarians the happiness of not being the poorest, the unhappiest, living the shortest and, unfortunately, being the least enlightened,” said Mika Zaykova.

“We can do something very important here, despite the fact that we are different, that we have different political beliefs, I think we have a single goal, and that is the prosperity of Bulgaria and its dignified place in the European family,” said the oldest MP in the 45th National Assembly. “I am sure that each of you will give the maximum of your knowledge and skills to achieve this goal,” said Mika Zaykova. “I think our ancestors also gave us the formula for achieving this goal, and it's written in their legacy on the façade of this building: “Unity makes strength,” she added. “Bulgaria, the interests of the people are above all else. Don't forget who sent you here and why,” Mika Zaykova urged.

The hymn of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union sounded at the opening of the plenary session.

In his address to the people and the National Assembly President Rumen Radev emphasized that the historic moment we are in puts this Parliament before the mission to undertake long-awaited changes to achieve the most important, immediate national goal – the strengthening of the government system. In his words, decisive action is needed to dismantle the government model rejected by the voters, to affirm the rule of law, to neutralize the actions behind the scenes, to curb the corruption, to return the citizens in the government, noted the Head of State. “Without achieving this goal, any new government configurations and their economic and social policies will continue to be doomed to failure and Bulgaria will continue to “anchor” itself in the last places in the EU in terms of standard and quality of life,” Rumen Radev said. “A key step along this path is the appointment of a new type of government model – a synthesis of integrity and competence,” he added.

“Regardless of the course of the consultations and the mandates for forming a government, the Parliament should take immediate action to reform the election law,” Rumen Radev said. The Head of State pointed out that during a year and a half of consultations with him, a number of proposals were made, including 100 per cent machine voting, video surveillance, transparency of the work of the election administration, fair access to the media in the election campaign, more polling stations and ensuring remote voting for our compatriots abroad. “We owe it to the humiliated members of the election commissions, forced to wait for days, stuffed in halls and on buses, we owe it to our compatriots abroad, who enthusiastically showed us that for them Bulgaria is not only a birthplace, not only a past, but also the Fatherland in which thousands dream to return,” Rumen Radev said.

Representatives of the parties and coalitions represented in the National Assembly gave statements at the formal session.

Iva Miteva, an MP from the PG of PP “Ima Takav Narod” (“There Are Such People”) was elected President of the 45th National Assembly. 163 MPs supported the candidacy and 75 abstained.

Tsveta Karayancheva (PG of GERB-SDS), Viktoriya Vasileva (PG of PP “Ima Takav Narod”), Kristian Vigenin (PG of “BSP for Bulgaria”), Mukaddes Nalbant (PG of DPS), Atanas Atanasov (PG of “Democratic Bulgaria – Union”), Tatyana Doncheva (PG of “Izpravi Se! Mutri Van! (“Stand up! Mafia Out!”).

The MPs adopted a decision on the temporary implementation of the Rules of Organisation and Activity of the previous National Assembly and elected a temporary committee to draft the Rules of Organisation of the 45th National Assembly.

The official session was attended by the President Rumen Radev, the Vice President Iliyana Yotova, the President (2012 – 2017) Rosen Plevneliev, the previous Presidents of the National Assembly, the National Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva, representatives of the religious denominations, of state institutions and of the diplomatic corps.