[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE CITIZENS OF BULGARIA

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the 
citizens of Bulgaria for formally approving their new government 
yesterday.
  After negotiations following five elections in 2 years, the National 
Assembly agreed to form a government where the Prime Minister will 
change hands halfway through.
  Lawmakers elected Nikolay Denkov, a chemistry professor and former 
Education Minister, as Prime Minister. In separate votes, legislators 
agreed that Mariya Gabriel, a former European Commissioner, will serve 
as deputy head of government and Foreign Minister. After 9 months, 
Denkov and Gabriel will switch positions for the rest of the term.
  Bulgaria is a valued American ally and is appreciated for, 80 years 
ago, saving the Jewish population from Nazi extermination.
  Yesterday, Ambassador Georgi Panayotov was the special guest of the 
Bulgarian Caucus.
  The new coalition government has pledged to keep Bulgaria, an 
important NATO and EU member, on a firm pro-Western track and supports 
Ukraine against the Putin war crimes.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, who successfully protected 
America for 20 years, as the global war on terrorism continues moving 
from Afghanistan to the safe haven of America with open Biden borders.

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