Bulgaria’s Parliament Mandates Government Ratification of Trump’s “Board of Peace”
Bulgaria’s National Assembly has voted to compel the government to submit for ratification the agreement regarding the country’s accession to Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace.” The move has sparked controversy and a pledge from the caretaker Prime Minister to seek a Constitutional Court review.
Parliamentary Vote and Government Response
On March 13, 2026, the National Assembly passed a resolution obligating the government to table the ratification of Bulgaria’s membership in the “Board of Peace.” The vote passed with 100 in favor, 54 against, and three abstentions. The supporting votes came from the GERB-UDF, MRF – New Beginning, and ITN parties. Opposition came from We Continue the Change – New Beginning, Vuzrazhdane, and the Bulgarian Socialist Party – United Left, with a few abstentions from individual MPs.
Caretaker Prime Minister Andrei Gyurov stated that, should Parliament approve the proposal, he would refer the matter to the Constitutional Court. He also suggested that the move was linked to attempts by certain politicians to leverage national interests in relation to their standing on the Magnitsky list, specifically referencing Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, who is sanctioned by the US for corruption and proposed the “Board of Peace” initiative.
Background of the Agreement
The accession agreement was originally signed on January 22, 2026, by then-Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov of GERB-UDF, during the final days of his government. The decision was made without prior public announcement and in a closed-door session. The “Board of Peace” was initially conceived in connection with Trump’s “Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan.”
Political Reactions and Concerns
Delyan Peevski, following the vote, criticized the PP-DB parties, alleging they only support American interests when aligned with those of George Soros.
Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neinski has expressed reservations about the legal status of the expanded “Board of Peace,” noting that concerns are shared by many EU countries, as the scope extends beyond Gaza. The Council of Ministers intends to request a ruling from the Constitutional Court to determine if the organization’s statutes are compatible with Bulgaria’s constitution and laws.
Opposition parties, including We Continue the Change – New Beginning, argue that foreign policy is the responsibility of the executive branch, not the legislature. There were also questions raised about the existence of a formal agreement, with former Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev stating that no such agreement was in place.
Yordan Tsonev, a deputy from the DPS, argued that Trump’s initiative represents a step towards reforming the United Nations, suggesting the UN is unable to address pressing global issues due to the veto power held by authoritarian countries within the Security Council.
Further Developments
President Radev received an invitation from Donald Trump to represent Bulgaria in the Peace Council on Monday, January 21, 2026, but declined the invitation and did not propose an alternative representative.