site.btaMRF Party Leader Meets Mayors of Two Towns Protesting Election of Controversial MP on His Party's Ticket

MRF Party Leader Meets Mayors of Two Towns Protesting Election of Controversial MP on His Party's Ticket

Kyustendil, Southwestern Bulgaria, October 22 (BTA) - Movement
for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) leader Lyutvi Mestan Wednesday met
 with the mayors of the southwestern towns of Kyustendil and
Doupnitsa which have been protesting for weeks against the
election of a controversial MP of the MRF as a representative of
 the two towns in the new legislature. It trasnspired after the
meeting that MRF is not going to withdraw the said MP.

The said MP, Alexander Metodiev, received only 864 votes in the
October 5 early general elections, but won a seat in Parliament
due to the use of the Hare/Niemeyer formula incorporated in the
Election Code, and will be the only MRF representative for
Kyustendil and Doupnitsa in the legislature. Experts have
explained that Metodiev's election is a result of the votes cast
 by Bulgarians abroad.

The two protesting towns argue that the MRF seat should be
allocated to a different constituency where MRF has stronger
voter support.

Meeting with the two mayors of Wednesday, Lyutvi Mestan said
that he does not question people's right to protest wrongful
decisions, be it their legislative. "I have made a commitment
and will help amend this wrong decision but they cannot expect
me to perform the anti-constitutional act of pulling out a whole
 candidates' list because the number of mandates in Parliaments
is set by the Constitution itself," Mestan told the press after
the meeting. 

He also said that the protest should be aimed against the
authors of the controversial legislation.

Doupnitsa Mayor Metodi Chimev emerged dissatisfied from the
meeting. He said the issue remains for the residents of his
town.

Kyustendil Mayor Peter Paounov said that the only morally right
decision would be for the MPs of MRF elected in the same way as
Alexander Metodiev, not to take the oath as deputies out of
respect for the vote of local people.

He added that he would continue to call for immediate change of
the legislation.
 
The Kyustendil meeting was held under tight police security.
Lyutvi Mestan entered and exited the building of the town hall
by a back door.