On Thursday the parties forming the status quo - GERB, BSP and MRF - showed that, although they are batting for different teams, covering up for Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev can still unite them. Today's demonstration of loyalty came after Democratic Bulgaria introduced a draft procedure that would have compelled the Prosecutor General to attend quarterly hearings by the Justice Committee in Parliament. The three parties backed an alternative procedure introduced by MRF that would instead compel the Presidents of the High Court of Cassation and the High Administrative Court to attend the hearings alongside Mr Geshev.
GERB gets no support for a Mitov cabinet, will pass the mandate tomorrow
Invitations for discussions from GERB, the largest party in parliament, to Democratic Bulgaria and "There is such a people" (TISP) party were rebuffed on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. The nominee for Prime Minister Daniel Mitov announced that the party is yet to decide if it will still bring the proposed cabinet to the National Assembly for a formal vote on Friday, or would immediately return the mandate to President Rumen Radev. Both Democratic Bulgaria and TISP refused coalition talks with GERB, citing its pivotal role in the current corrupt political status quo.
Vaccination "Green corridors" to reopen between 30 April and 10 May
National Health Inspector Angel Kunchev announced on Thursday that immunization centers will reopen "Green corridors" for free vaccinations between 30 April and 10 May. All available types of jabs will be administered and there will be no need to book a spot. The precise locations will be revealed on Monday, 26 April, Mr Kunchev said. Currently, the vaccination centers have reserves of the Pfizer vaccine, some Moderna dozes and AstraZeneca, Mr Kunchev added.
High Administrative Court dismisses parts of the notorious H-18 regulation
The decision to dismiss elements of the Registration and Reporting of Sales by Fiscal Devices regulation (known as the H-18 regulation) by the final instance court follows two years of heated debates between the Ministry of Finance and business representatives. Most of the discarded parts of the regulation are technical requirements for operating online shops that have already cost retailers millions of euro in investments. Democratic Bulgaria proposed in Parliament a bill to amend the VAT legislation in a way that would not allow the state to impose technical requirements to the software for management of sales.
On Thursday the parties forming the status quo - GERB, BSP and MRF - showed that, although they are batting for different teams, covering up for Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev can still unite them. Today's demonstration of loyalty came after Democratic Bulgaria introduced a draft procedure that would have compelled the Prosecutor General to attend quarterly hearings by the Justice Committee in Parliament. The three parties backed an alternative procedure introduced by MRF that would instead compel the Presidents of the High Court of Cassation and the High Administrative Court to attend the hearings alongside Mr Geshev.
