site.btaLegal Affairs Committee Chairman: New Election Rules Unlikely until Spring

Legal Affairs Committee Chairman: New Election Rules  Unlikely until Spring

Sofia, December 2 (BTA) - Politicians have been debating time frames for changes in the electoral system since the November 6 referendum approved the introduction of a two-round majoritarian system for parliamentary elections and compulsory voting.

On Friday, Danail Kirilov, Chairman of the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, said it was unlikely for Parliament to adopt new election rules until next spring when early elections may be held. This has been confirmed by experts, and GERB's MPs stand behind the voters' will, which they are going to support as soon as possible. GERB has already introduced a draft resolution concerning the referendum. However, they are the only party in favour of a purely majoritarian system, meaning that it may not be adopted.

Kirilov is adamant that the international standards should be applied: the Venice Commission recommends that the fundamental elements of electoral law should not be open to amendment less than one year before an election.

One option is to adopt a draft resolution to amend the election rules so the next Parliament can take it from there.

Districting for majoritarian voting should be done by a non-political body which enjoys public trust.

Regarding parties subsidies, which remained unchanged at 11 leva per valid vote in the 2017 State Budget Bill although the referendum showed people are in favour of setting them at 1 lev per valid vote received at the last parliamentary elections, Kirilov said this required amendments to the Political Parties Act and GERB was willing to make them. "We are in favour of scrapping party subsidies," he said.

Socialist MP Filip Popov reiterated the view of the BSP-Left Bulgaria group that this Parliament has run out of potential and lacks the time and public approval to deal with amendments to electoral legislation.

He cited experts as saying that it takes at least a year to set the voting districts and sort out the sticking points in electoral law. Changing the electoral system is a serious matter and should not be rushed, Popov said. The early elections should be held in a calm atmosphere and the next Parliament should amend the legislation.

Popov noted that BSP-Left Bulgaria was working with experts on several versions of a mixed electoral system, districting and ways to apply such a system in Bulgaria to give representative democracy the best chance.