MPs Discuss Changes for Lukoil and Investments

The Parliament is preparing to discuss in first reading changes to the Investment Promotion Act, related to the potential sale of assets by the energy giant "Lukoil". This decision was made at today's plenary session, after lively debates. The addition of this point to the agenda was the subject of discussion at a chairmen's council before being put to a vote. Upon re-voting, the result was decisive: 125 MPs supported the inclusion, while 83 voted against, and eight abstained.

The atmosphere in the hall was tense as the MPs prepared to vote. The noise of conversations and movement was palpable as the MPs took their seats.

The re-voting was initiated by Iskra Mihailova from the parliamentary group "Vazrazhdane", who expressed doubts about the procedure. She called on the Speaker of Parliament to investigate how this particular point reached the plenary hall. Mihailova stressed that the bill was submitted to the registry outside of normal working hours and was considered by an extraordinary committee the day before. "What is the urgency that requires this point to enter in this absurd and offensive way", she asked, adding that the point in question affects "a huge company, which is part of Bulgaria's critical infrastructure".

Bozhidar Bozhanov from the coalition "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" offered his explanation for the speed, which is possibly related to the actions of an MP from the majority. He disagreed with the removal from the agenda of another important bill – the one for amending the Cyber Security Act. The proposal to remove this point was also accompanied by a request to check the quorum, which prompted Bozhanov to call on the opposition not to register.

Against the backdrop of these heated debates and friction, the MPs decided to extend the session in order to consider all the scheduled items on the agenda for today.

Yesterday, at a joint meeting, two parliamentary committees – the leading one on energy and the economic committee – approved an important change. They decided that the sale of assets of the Russian oil company "Lukoil" in Bulgaria will be possible only with a positive opinion from the State Agency "National Security" and a decision of the Council of Ministers. This decision was made in first reading and concerns changes to the Investment Promotion Act, submitted by MPs from the ruling majority.