site.btaUPDATED Representatives of Political Forces, Civil Associations Discuss Proposals for Electoral System Revision

A revision of the electoral system and the introduction of a mixed one, like in Germany, is being proposed by the civic association "Awakeners" and presented at a round table titled "Changes in the Electoral Code, which ensure fair elections in Bulgaria". The discussion takes place at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). The round table was attended by representatives of the political parties Ataka, "Morals, Initiative, Patriotism" (MIR), "Center", Velichie, the civic "Norm-making Council", etc.

The "Awakeners" believe that there should be a complete ban on opinion polls 60 days before elections because this is an indirect way to influence the results. The Electoral Code (EC) should also regulate how the so-called political advertising will be laid down. It is obligatory to review the division into separate blocks of debates between parliamentary and non-parliamentary political forces, explained lawyer Rosen Rashkov from the association, who is also the forum organizer.

One of the ideas is that the video recordings could be used by the Central Election Commission (CEC) as evidence, and that both the Central and the Regional Election Commission boards should be elected by contests, instead of on a quota basis as before. The code should also stipulate that a National Headquarters for Fair Elections be established before any type of election to coordinate actions between the CEC, political parties and NGOs, Rashkov added.

Last week, the National Assembly passed five bills on changes to the Electoral Code in the first vote.

"They are getting ready to make another "patches" in the law", said Tihomir Vassilev from the "Awakeners". He noted the absence from the roundtable of representatives of the parliamentary political forces, except for Vazrazhdane, which has its MP at the forum, the Council of Ministers, the Presidency. Vassilev clarified that invitations were not sent to the parliamentary groups of GERB-UDF and MRF - New Beginning. "Those who should be interested in having a new electoral law did not come", Vassilev clarified.

"No big changes can be made for the next elections, we are aware that there are recommendations from the so-called Venice Commission so that elections can be fair", Rashkov said. That is why, according to "Awakeners", more cardinal amendments should be set so that they come into force not for the next election, but for the one after that.

Vazrazhdane MP Ivaylo Chorbov proposed to remove the numbers in the ballot papers and abolish the paper ballot. Simeon Slavchev, MIR party chair, believes that machine voting technology is the key to having fair elections in Bulgaria. According to him, machine voting removes the subjective factor. He said that it is important that the machine protocol be recognized as the final protocol of the polling station and the CEC become an expert independent body. Prof. Plamen Kirov noted that 11 regions have four seats, i.e. one third of the regions distribute the minimum number of MP seats, while the capital's 23rd region sends 19 MPs. According to him, the constituency "Foreign" cannot be created because we do not know how many Bulgarian citizens live permanently abroad. "Bulgaria is the only country in Europe that allows voters to be added to the electoral lists on election day", Prof. Kirov said. "Now the introduction of new machines is proposed - we will replace some machines with others, this will not solve our problem, nor will counting centres solve the problem of "dexterous hands", he added. 

Lawyer Rosen Rashkov of "Awakeners" explained that the idea is that the voting machines will not be just printers of ballots, but the protocol from the machines will be sent to the counting center and to all participants in the elections.  

Ataka Chair Volen Siderov proposed the electoral regions to be abolished and to consider the barrier for entry into parliament to be floating. According to him, if Bulgaria becomes one region, this will give independent MP candidates a chance. In his words, this way if one person stands as an independent candidate, people who like him from all over Bulgaria can vote for him. Siderov also proposes that when fewer voters vote, the barrier for entering parliament should fall. He pointed out that now the barrier is the same with two million and four million voters. Siderov expressed hope that Vazrazhdane will submit to the parliament several key proposals from the round table.  

Chairman of Bulgarian Union for Direct Democracy Georgi Nedelchev commented that the introduction of one region is extremely important because it reduces administration. He suggested to think about a proportional system, in which whoever does not like someone can vote against him.

Prof. Mihail Mirchev, chair of the "Citizens' Initiative for Free and Democratic Elections" described the proposal for a mixed electoral system like the one in Germany as "frivolous". He proposed a proportional system with majoritarian elements in which one could also vote negatively. According to Mirchev, the video footage should become proof. Regarding the machine voting, he commented that "either we bring back the original version of the machines or we abandon them".