No breakthrough over forming government
Despite the mutual intent to reinitiate negotiations for forming a government, there has been no confirmed dialogue between WCC-DB and GERB since negotiations stalled on Tuesday. Today marks the end of the reflection period provided by Boyko Borissov to the coalition. Despite expectations, his party declined to nominate Mariya Gabriel for the prime ministerial vote in the National Assembly.
According to the Constitution there is no specific timeframe for the parliamentary vote on a prime ministerial nominee. However, BNT stresses that legal interpretation allows for a 'reasonable term', equating to seven days for standard constitutional procedures.
Ukraine eyes Bulgarian nuclear reactor deal
Ukraine aims to sign a deal in June to buy two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria, as stated by Energoatom's chief Petro Kotin in a Reuters interview. This move comes as Ukraine seeks to replace power lost from the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest. The reactors will be installed at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant in Western Ukraine, using Russian-designed equipment sourced from Bulgaria.
Negotiations are ongoing, with an expected outcome by June, said Kotin, the current acting president of Europe's largest nuclear plant. He highlighted the urgency to have the first reactor ready for installation by then, with Energoatom prepared for commissioning work within two to three years.
While the second reactor's installation timeline remains unspecified, Kotin mentioned Bulgaria's initial 600 million dollar quote for the reactors might increase, as the equipment is only available elsewhere in Russia.
Parliament approves U.S. collaboration on Kozloduy blocks
Bulgarian deputies have endorsed a collaboration with the U.S. for constructing blocks 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in a second reading. The ratification bill received 161 votes in favor, with 56 against and three abstentions. Support came from GERB, WCC-DB, DPS, and There Is Such a People.
Following the law's enactment, the Foreign Minister is to notify the U.S. of the agreement's ratification, while the Energy Minister must publish the document in the State Gazette within 15 days. The agreement, signed on February 12 by Bulgarian Energy Minister Rumen Radev and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy Andrew White, signifies a formal partnership between Bulgaria and the U.S. for the new reactors' investments.
No breakthrough over forming government
Despite the mutual intent to reinitiate negotiations for forming a government, there has been no confirmed dialogue between WCC-DB and GERB since negotiations stalled on Tuesday. Today marks the end of the reflection period provided by Boyko Borissov to the coalition. Despite expectations, his party declined to nominate Mariya Gabriel for the prime ministerial vote in the National Assembly.
