site.btaConstitutional Court Declares Anti-constitutional Three, Out of Six, Questions of National Referendum Moved by Team of TV Talk Show Host Trifonov

Constitutional Court Declares Anti-constitutional Three, Out of Six, Questions of National Referendum Moved by Team of TV Talk Show Host Trifonov

Sofia, July 28 (BTA) - The Constitutional Court ruled that three questions of national referendum on election-related questions moved by the team of TV talk show host Slavi Trifonov contravene the Constitution, sources from the Court said on Thursday.

The Court was petitioned by President Rosen Plevneliev to rule on the constitutionality of the six questions in the referendum, which are about holding of parliamentary elections based on the majority principle in two rounds; halving the number of MPs in Parliament; compulsory voting; introducing remote e-voting in elections and referendums; reducing the state subsidy for political parties and coalitions to 1 lev per vote received in the latest general elections; and introducing majority-rule elections in two rounds for the election with absolute majority of the directors of the Interior Ministry's regional departments and the heads of regional police stations.

The constitutional judges reasoned that citizens' pronouncing on the number of MPs, about the election of senior Interior Ministry staff and being asked to answer for the second time about electronic voting, tramples fundamental constitutional principles.

The Court reasoned that it is impossible for a referendum conducted in pursuance of a resolution of an ordinary National Assembly to ask questions that are of the competence of a Grand National Assembly.

The Court's decision is unanimous.