Bulgarian Right-Wingers Fail to Quit Election Race

MEP Nadezhda Neynski, founded Blue Unity after leaving another right-wing party, the Union of Democratic Forces, UDF. Photo by BGNES

An embarrassing situation has emerged for newly formed Bulgarian right-wing party Blue Unity, as it has turned out that the formation cannot legally withdraw its registration for the upcoming general elections.

Blue Unity reiterated on Thursday that it would not take part in the snap elections on May 12. The move came after the party unexpectedly refused to join a coalition with another right-wing movement, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB).

However, the country’s electoral body has now explained that there are no legal mechanisms that would allow Blue Unity to withdraw its registration.

Blue Unity now has three days to appeal the Central Electoral Committee’s decision – or it may end up being forced to participate in the elections.

MEP Nadezhda Neynski founded Blue Unity after leaving the other right-wing party Union of Democratic Forces, UDF, in the midst of the scandal for the nomination of a constitutional judge from the parliamentary quota. The party had declared that it would unite with DSB ahead of the elections.

On Monday, DSB and the Bulgarian Democratic Forum, BDF, unexpectedly registered a coalition with the Central Electoral Commission. DSB explained then the absence of Blue Unity with technical issues such as the latter having problems to obtain bank guarantee documents on time as it has been registered only a month ago.

Hours later, however, Blue Unity later dismissed DSB’s claim, saying that the rift has been caused by DSB leader Ivan Kostov’s ambition to be the sole leader of the coalition.

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