Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)

The parliamentary budget and finance committee approved at second reading an update of the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) by BGN 225 M.

Lecturer and civil activist prof. Georgi Bliznashki will be Bulgaria's Prime Minister within the caretaker government due to be sworn in next week, a Bulgarian daily reports.

Citing sources close to President Rosen Plevneliev, the newspaper 24 Chasa argues the head of state's decision was confirmed during his meeting with prospective cabinet members.

Lawmakers failed to reach quorum on Friday, when they were to hold their last regular meeting before President Rosen Plevneliev dissolves Parliament on August 6.

Amendments to the Waste Management Act and the Protection of Competition Act were on the MPs' agenda after Plevneliev vetoed changes to the latter text.

In the last days of outgoing 42-nd National Assembly, the MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Martin Zahariev tabled a draft law on space exploration. 

Bulgaria's nominee to become the EU's High Representative should be more vocal on foreign issues of the bloc, outgoing Bulgarian top diplomat Kristian Vigenin said.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev will hold consultations with future caretaker government ministers, Thursday.

There is nothing "spectacular" about whether the 2014 budget will be overhauled or not, Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski said on Wednesday.

Lyutvi Mestan, leader of liberal party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), has rejected the mandate to form a government.

DPS, the third biggest political party, declined the invitation of President Rosen Plevneliev on Wednesday.

Center-right opposition GERB has stepped back and has announced it is against the update of Bulgaria's state budget.

Leader Boyko Borisov has declared the party will not attend any more Parliament sessions until August 5, when the last meeting of lawmakers in the 42nd National Assembly is due to be held.

Bulgaria's outgoing Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin has suggested that new sanctions against Russia will have a negative impact on the entire EU.

In a Wednesday interview for the Bulgarian National Television, he claimed that the restrictive measures which the 28 EU Member States were currently discussing would not affect Bulgaria.