Holy Synod to elect next Patriarch on 30 June, Vratsa Bishop to preside until then
At today's meeting, the Holy Synod decided on 30 June to convene a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council for the election of a new Bulgarian Patriarch. On 20 June, a meeting of the Synod will be convened to elect three diocesan bishops - candidates for the Patriarchal See who meet the requirements. A month earlier, the Holy Synod will finalize the selection of the next Sliven bishop.
Earlier today, the Holy Synod unanimously elected Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa as permanent vicar following the death of Patriarch Neofit. He is to conduct the election of a new Patriarch.
The three metropolitans who will be candidates for the patriarchal throne will be elected by secret ballot and a two-thirds majority of the voting metropolitans. You can read more about the election process in our Monday article.
Government rotation: GERB proposes cabinet, WCC-DB stay silent
After 36 hours of heated negotiations and back-and-forths, GERB Prime Minister-designate Mariya Gabriel returned to president Rumen Radev the exploratory mandate completed and accompanied by a list of ministers. However, it is still unclear whether the proposed cabinet will be backed by the other majority faction - WCC-DB.
While most ministers from the Denkov cabinet will remain in position, there are several notable changes. Defense Minister Todor Tagarev is replaced by MP Hristo Gadzhev, Zhecho Stankov takes over the energy sector from Rumen Radev, e-government goes to Valentin Mundrov, Parliament speaker Rosen Zhelyazkov becomes Minister of Innovation, Katya Paneva takes over the health sector and the Ministry of Environment goes to Ivelina Vassileva.
Unlike yesterday, when she received the mandate in the presence of WCC chairman Kiril Petkov and outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, Gabriel had only been accompanied by the GERB negotiating team. Currently, there is no reaction from WCC-DB.
Ex-GERB, current MRF deputy sentenced for influence peddling after 12 years
Sofia City Court has found the MP from MRF Dimitar Avramov guilty of influence peddling and bribery, the Bulgarian Telegraphic Agency (BTA) reported on Tuesday. He has been sentenced to a suspended sentence of one year with three years probation. The verdict is not final and is subject to appeal before the Sofia Court of Appeal.
Avramov was arrested in July 2012 when he was a MP from GERB. After the arrest, his immunity was lifted in order to investigate him. In 2016, the Sofia City Court acquitted Avramov, but a year later, the Sofia Court of Appeals overturned the acquittal and returned the case to the first instance due to significant violations.
According to the Prosecution, he had been caught with marked money, which he had requested from grain farmer Svetoslav Ilchovski to solve his problems in one of the regional agricultural committees.
Holy Synod to elect next Patriarch on 30 June, Vratsa Bishop to preside until then
At today's meeting, the Holy Synod decided on 30 June to convene a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council for the election of a new Bulgarian Patriarch. On 20 June, a meeting of the Synod will be convened to elect three diocesan bishops - candidates for the Patriarchal See who meet the requirements. A month earlier, the Holy Synod will finalize the selection of the next Sliven bishop.
