site.btaForeign Ministry Begins Preparations For Elections Abroad Amid COVID Pandemic

ESD 16:02:01 17-01-2021
PP1559ES.105
105 POLITICS-ELECTIONS-FOREIGN MINISTRY-PREPARATIONS

Foreign Ministry Begins Preparations
For Elections Abroad
Amid COVID Pandemic


Sofia, January 17 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that it has begun preparations for the organization of the general elections abroad. A working group, set up by Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, has to ensure the voting rights of as many Bulgarians as possible despite the epidemic.

Bulgarians will be voting for a national parliament on April 4.

Heads of Bulgarian diplomatic missions have received instructions to ask for permission from the host country to hold elections and open voting sections on the premises of Bulgarian embassies and consular services.

The working group will have to draw up a draft budget for the organization of the elections abroad. It will have to factor in expenses for disinfection and personal protection of voters and members of election commissions, per diem expenses for seconded members of the section commissions considering the country specific rules for a PCR test or quarantine, as well as for providing supplies which will guarantee the strict implementations of health protocols, which will be introduced by the Health Ministry.

Also, the Foreign Ministry will publish important information about the vote abroad under the heading Elections on its website. It will provide information about the specific terms of voting, in addition to the websites of the respective diplomatic missions and their social media accounts.

Representatives of the Foreign Ministry held a meeting with the Central Election Commission to discuss all challenges to the holding of the vote abroad.

Meeting with President Rumen Radev during consultations he held with a wide scope of officials and organizations before scheduling the elections, representatives of Bulgarian communities abroad called for introduction of mail-in voting to allow a large number of Bulgarians living and working abroad to vote for a national Parliament. The non-parliamentary opposition - and the President himself - want that too. The ruling majority in Parliament, however, believes there is not enough time to roll out mail-in voting as it will require a major change in the election legislation. LN/PP