Members of Parliament Overrule Presidential Veto on Hospital Spending Limits

With 124 votes in favor, 85 against, and 3 abstentions, Parliament re-adopted the amendments to the Health Insurance Act. These amendments reintroduce spending limits in hospital care. Consequently, MPs overruled the veto imposed by President Rumen Radev a few days ago.

The Head of State justified his decision with two primary reasons: first, the non-transparent manner in which the texts were adopted, without prior discussion, motives, or opinions from stakeholders; and second, the fact that a similar text regarding spending limits had already been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court last year.

The debates on the veto in the plenary hall lasted nearly two hours. The opposition insisted that the method of adoption and the potential unconstitutionality of the texts were serious grounds for them not to be re-approved. However, the ruling majority defended the changes, providing assurances that the current version complies with the Constitutional Court’s ruling.

Ultimately, despite the heated arguments, positions remained unchanged. With the votes of MPs from GERB-SDS, BSP, ITN, and the support of DPS – New Beginning, hospital spending limits have once again become part of the legislation.