Bulgaria President’s Election Act Veto Countered by Own Party

The Bulgarian Parliament is most likely to pass again the 8% threshold for coalitions to enter the Parliament despite the President’s veto. Photo by Sofia New Agency

The left wing is most likely to vote again in support of the new Election Act and counter the presidential veto.

The news was announced by Darik radio, citing their own source, upon conclusion of the emergency meeting of the leadership of the "Coalition for Bulgaria" parliamentary group. The meeting was convened after Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, returned the Election Act to be reexamined by the Members of the Parliament (MPs).

The President is opposed to the clause raising the coalitions' threshold from 4% to 8%.

In addition to the Bulgarian Socialist Party, (BSP), the threshold's rise is supported by the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, while the National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP) of former PM and Tsar, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, will not participate in the new vote.

From the opposition, the disputed clause is supported by the "Order, Law and Justice" Party , which introduced the proposal and the nationalist "Ataka" party. The United Democratic Forces (UDF), Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), "Bulgarian New Democracy" (BND) and the Movement "Forward" are against the clause.

121 MPs' votes are needed to approve again the disputed text. The parties in favor of raising the threshold have 137 votes.

 

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