site.btaPresident Says Local Election Date and Referendum Questions Will Be Announced in Matter of Days, Oct. 25 Likely to Be Picked

President Says Local Election Date and Referendum Questions Will Be Announced in Matter of Days

Sofia, June 1 (BTA) - President Rosen Plevneliev said on Monday
that the talks between his administration and the parliamentary
parties will end later in the day, and a few days from now he
will address the nation to announce the date of the upcoming
local elections and the questions which will be asked in a
referendum on election rules.

Plevneliev said that October 25 is a very likely date for the
local elections, but it is subject to further discussion.

He said a working group of his administration is in the National
Assembly talking with the parliamentary forces about the local
elections and a concurrent referendum. He thanked the parties
for their broad consensus on the need to conduct a referendum
and on the timing of the elections.

The President said that the questions for the referendum will
not be very different from what was proposed a year and a half
ago. Back then, three questions were proposed about political
election rules, specifically about majority voting, compulsory
voting and electronic voting. These questions are very relevant
today and need to be addressed, Plevneliev said, recalling that
18 months ago they were met with approval by many political
parties and the general public, but the idea of a referendum was
rejected by the 42nd National Assembly.