site.btaPlevneliev: Root Cause of Major Problems Lies in Judiciary, Election Process

Plevneliev: Root Cause of  Major Problems Lies in Judiciary, Election  Process

Sofia, July 28 (BTA) - Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, 
President Rosen Plevneliev said the root cause of almost all 
major problems in Bulgaria lay in the judiciary and the election
  process. "That is why I strongly support a deep, comprehensive
  judicial reform and a national referendum on election rules,"
he said.

In June Plevneliev submitted a proposal to Parliament  that a
national referendum on some of the main principles of the
Bulgarians' election rights be held at the same time as the 
October 25 local elections.

He suggests three questions: about the election of MPs in 
accordance with the majority voting system; the introduction of
 compulsory voting in elections and national referendums; and
the  introduction of electronic voting.

"Decisive, sustainable progress in the administration of justice
 and the election process can only happen with the popular will
and support, that is why I repeated my initiative for a
referendum," Plevneliev  explained. It is just as important for
the future as the  judicial reform, he said.

"I believe that the debate and a decision to hold the referendum
  are key to the development of democracy and the political 
system," said Plevneliev. The three referendum questions have
long been the focus of public attention but have not been 
answered yet in a way that would bring stability to the 
electoral system and the institutions.

Plevneliev added that the use of direct democracy is proof that
politicians serve their people. "I am confident that if we
strengthen the role of referendums in our political life,
everyone stands to win: the parties, citizens and the
institutions. Well-regulated and organized, this most powerful
tool of direct democracy can make the political system far more
stable."

Plevneliev commended the MPs for the high level of stability of
the State, their ambition to implement important reforms, and
the broad political consensus reached on amendments to the
Constitution.

The President also said the citizens' low trust, the lack of a
sense of justice, the poor growth of the economy and incomes,
insufficient investments, corruption and the grey economy, and
low voter turnout were the result of the ineffective
administration of justice and the unstable election process.

"We have no reason or right to deny the people an opportunity to
 pronounce on the way they will elect MPs," said Plevneliev. He
commented that in recent years instead of bringing stability,
elections in Bulgaria very easily turned into a factor of
mistrust, constant doubts, endless allegations of fraud,
vote-buying and "corporate vote" (a practice in which employers
force their employees to vote for a certain party or candidate).

"I am confident that if we enhance majority voting, we will
strengthen the voter-MP bond and will enable a larger number of
Bulgarians who enjoy public recognition for their life and
achievements to participate in politics," the President said. He
 is in favour of a principled approach which will ensure that
Bulgaria gets the best of both majority and proportional
representation.

He stated his firm support for the multi-party political system,
 calling it "one of the most valuable achievements" of the
Bulgarian transition. At the same time, a mixed system in which
some MPs are elected by a majority vote and the rest are elected
 by a party-list vote will keep party diversity but will allow
people to vote for individual candidates.

There is no agreement on the number of MPs who will be elected
by a majority vote, Plevneliev said, adding that it would not be
 right for the President to set this number. "Let's see what the
 nation thinks about the majority vote in principle; this will
be the best reference point in the subsequent decisions of the
law-makers."

Plevneliev noted that the party of non-voters was growing
steadily and the state bodies were representing fewer and fewer
citizens.

"The State should make it possible for every Bulgarian,
including those abroad, to exercise the right to vote.
Electronic voting is certain to become a fact, the question is
when this will happen. I am confident that Bulgarian voters will
 be able to use e-voting in the near future - let's do this on
time," the President said.

"We have witnessed a dangerous process of delegitimation of
institutions, parties and the political system as a whole in
recent years. This is due, in part, to the loss of faith that
every citizen matters, that every citizen can change the State
with his or her vote, and that democracy allows citizens to
participate directly in decision making," he said.

Plevneliev said in conclusion: "I am confident that today's
debate and vote will show the public that the 43rd National
Assembly has put behind sharp unprincipled confrontation."