site.btaReformist Bloc, Bulgaria without Censorship Object to Central Election Commission's Decision on Party Numbering

Reformist Bloc, Bulgaria without Censorship Object to Central Election Commission's Decision on Party Numbering

Sofia, September 12 (BTA) - The Reformist Bloc (RB) is against Friday's decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) that the lots for the numbers of parties on the ballot papers be drawn at the national level. The RB will lodge a complaint before the Supreme Administrative Court, MP Dimiter Delchev told a news conference in Veliko Turnovo (North Central Bulgaria), quoted by the press centre of his party Bulgaria for the Citizens.

CEC's decision reads that the numbers of parties and coalitions on the ballot papers will be determined through a lot drawn at the national level, and not at the local level as the procedure was until now. In this way the parties and coalitions registered at CEC that will run in the elections in the same format in various cities, will receive one single number with which they will be listed in all municipalities. However, such a numbering procedure will be problematic for local coalitions because it will lead to them being placed at the end of the list on the ballot paper, Delchev explained.

He described CEC's decision as unlawful because, in accordance with Art. 423 of the Election Code, the numbers of parties and coalitions on the ballot papers are determined by the municipal election commissions.

In Delchev's words, these are local elections so they should be discussing local problems, but with its decision CEC is trying to turn the elections into national ones. This will rob citizens of the opportunity to elect the best candidate for their settlement who has solutions for their problems, the MP added. CEC's decision discriminates local parties and coalitions because their number will be from 80 up and this will cause additional difficulties for the votes, who have to go through four difference ballot papers at the elections.

Bulgaria without Cenzorship leader and MEP Nikolay Barekov said that he has lodged a complaint before the Supreme Administrative Court against CEC's decision on party numbering. According to him, the decision violates the Election Code and places local coalitions at a disadvantage.

Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Mihail Mikov Saturday commented on CEC's decision, describing it as scandalous and going against Art. 423 of the Election Code. Who needs laws in Bulgaria when there are bodies that can rewrite them, he asked rhetorically.