Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev has signed a decree to convene the 45^th National Assembly on April 15, announced the press secretariat of this country’s head of state. The decree is expected to be promulgated in the State Gazette on April 14. Traditionally, the first sitting of the new National Assembly will be opened by the oldest Member of Parliament, which in the case of the 45^th Parliament is Mika Zaikova from “There is Such a People” party. She will preside the National Assembly until a permanent Speaker of Bulgaria’s 45^th Parliament is elected. On Thursday, the MPs have to draft and adopt procedural rules for the election of a National Assembly Speaker.

Six parties and coalitions enter the new Bulgarian Parliament. The Parliamentary group of GERB/SDS coalition will have 75 MPs, followed by the Parliamentary group of “There is Such a People” party- 51MPs, BSP for Bulgaria-43 MPs, MRF-30 MPs, Democratic Bulgaria-27 MPs and “Stand up! Thugs Out!”- 14 MPs.

President Radev signed a decree to convene the 45^th National Assembly immediately after Bulgaria’s State Gazette published the names of the MPs in the new Parliament.