site.btaPresident Appeals for Responsible Attitude to National Referendum

President Appeals for Responsible Attitude to National Referendum

Sofia, October 15 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev voiced
disappointment that as at the present date he does not see the
expected commitment on the part of the political parties to the
national referendum on electronic voting, which is to be held in
 parallel to the local elections on October 25. He urged the
political formations for a responsible attitude to the
referendum in the remaining time to the day of voting.

According to the President, the parties' passiveness in the
referendum campaign is somewhat inexplicable. He recalled that
there are 25 parties, which have registered as agents of the
referendum. Quite a high number of parties have stated a
negative position to the referendum but neither of the two sides
 is active in the campaign.

The head of State voiced hope, however, that this will change in
 the remaining time to the referendum date. "This is what the
Bulgarian citizens expect from their politicians; they want that
 their voice be heard," Plevneliev said adding that this is the
true meaning of a referendum - to ask the people and listen to
what they would say. For this purpose, however, their awareness
should be raised and all parties, which are documented agents of
 the referendum, should come out and say why they are in favour
of that referendum and why electronic voting may change Bulgaria
 for the better. "Why those who are against do not come out and
say how, in their opinion, the e-voting may cause trouble," the
President asked.

Plevneliev noted that he does not take a side but only appeals
for a more active position. The political parties should show a
responsible attitude for the sake of the people and in order to
demonstrate democratic culture because democracy could unfold,
where representative and direct democracy interact and not where
 the former is present, while the latter is missing, he
observed.