site.btaParliament Decides No Voting Sections to Be Formed Abroad outside Bulgarian Diplomatic, Consular Representations

Parliament Decides No Voting Sections to Be Formed Abroad outside Bulgarian Diplomatic, Consular Representations

Sofia, April 22 (BTA) - The formation of voting sections outside Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations abroad is not allowed, Parliament decided on Friday while discussing on second reading amendments to the Election Code. The motion was entered by Iskren Veselinov of the Patriotic Front (PF) and was supported by 139 MPs, 35 voted against and eight abstained.

The text provoked discussions in the plenary. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) objected, whose MP Chetin Kazak said that this is an attempt to restrict the voting rights of over one million Bulgarians abroad. He said that, on one hand, Parliament introduced compulsory voting, while on the other, it not only failed to remove the existing restrictions, but introduced practical restrictions for the Bulgarians abroad by forcing them to vote only in diplomatic and consular representations. He warned that if the motion is adopted, the MRF will firmly oppose every proposal moved by the governing majority.

According to Krassimir Karakachanov of the PF, it is not true that someone is being deprived of their right to vote. He explained that people will be able to cast their ballots in the diplomatic representations.

The Chair of Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, Danail Kirilov of GERB, noted that even in Europe there are problems with opening additional voting sections. According to him, Veselinov's proposal will eliminate the unequal treatment of Bulgarian voters abroad, as this rule will apply to all countries abroad.

Kirilov noted that Bulgarians abroad should be given an advantage regarding electronic voting. "If it is supported, we will commit ourselves to change our proposals, so that all trials and tests can be ran as fast as possible, enabling, if possible, Bulgarian citizens abroad to vote electronically in the next presidential elections," he said.

Earlier on Friday, GERB leader Boyko Borissov was in Parliament and spent about an hour and a half in National Assembly Chairperson Tsetska Tsacheva's office. According to Borissov, the reason he came was a phone call he got this morning from PF floor leader Valeri Simeonov, who asked to meet with GERB's MPs to discuss the Election Code.

On his way out of Parliament Borissov declined to comment what they had discussed.