A parliamentary session in Bulgaria was suspended on Tuesday after a physical altercation broke out between two lawmakers during a plenary sitting, prompting condemnation and renewed scrutiny of conduct in the legislature.
Radostin Vasilev, leader of the MECh party, and Gyunay Daloolu of DPS–New Beginning exchanged heated remarks before Daloolu approached Vasilev at his seat, leading to a brief scuffle. Other lawmakers intervened to separate the two.
Parliament Speaker Raya Nazaryan called a recess until 11 a.m. following the incident.
Vasilev later told reporters that the confrontation was unprovoked, alleging he had been verbally harassed before the clash. Daloolu did not immediately comment.
The incident interrupted an address by Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, who was presenting responses to questions from the We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria alliance regarding plans for new reactor units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
Lawmakers were due later in the day to debate the financial framework for the national health insurance fund and social security, as well as legislation extending the current budget.
Separately, opposition leaders from We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria called for a public protest on Wednesday evening, criticising what they described as repeated attempts to pass controversial budget measures.
Physical confrontations in Bulgaria’s parliament are rare but have occurred in periods of heightened political tension, often drawing public backlash and calls for stricter enforcement of parliamentary rules.