Court Saga Hinders Bulgaria Blue Coalition EP Elections Run

The future of the so-called “Blue Coalition” remains unclear. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The new leadership of the opposition UDF party would not be able to officially register for the European Parliament elections.

The statement was made by the Chair of the Sofia City Court, Svetlin Mihailov, in an interview for Darik radio Saturday.

According to Mihailov, there isn't any procedural possibility to register the rightist Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) to participate in the European elections by the May 12 deadline.

Late Friday, one day after Judge Nikolay Madzharov from the City Court withdrew from trying the UDF registration case, a new team of magistrates was appointed to decide on the issue.

The trial date is yet to be scheduled.

The magistrates must decide if the new and elected UDF leader, Martin Dimitrov, would be legally listed in the parties' registers.

The Sofia City Court recently refused to declare Dimitrov's registration legitimate. On April 30, Bulgaria's Supreme Cassation Court returned the case to the City Court criticizing the motives to reject the registration. On Thursday, Judge Madzharov withdrew with the motive that six claims have been filed demanding the case's dismissal.

Before the Court makes a decision about the registration, Martin Dimitrov cannot apply with the Central Election Commission to register the so-called "Blue Coalition" for participation in the European parliamentary elections. The registration deadline is Tuesday, May 12.

The new UDF leadership, led by Dimitrov, had decided months ago to run in coalition with the other rightist opposition party - Ivan Kostov's Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB). However, on April 30, former UDF leader, Plamen Yurukov, submitted documents for the UDF's solo running in the upcoming MEP elections.

On May 5, the UDF leadership suspended Yurukov's membership and the membership of former Chief Party Secretary, Plamen Radanov.

The Chair of the Sofia City Court told Darik radio that it had not been possible to immediately appoint a new team to try the case upon the judge's withdrawal due to mandatory Court procedures.

The Central Election Commission has not yet made the decision about Yurukov's solo registration.

In the mean time, Biser Troyanov, the Central Election Commission spokesperson, reported for Darik that Plamen Radanov submitted late Friday afternoon an additional 6 000 signatures.

Troyanov said the signatures were going to be verified and if they were valid, they would compensate for the lacking 819 signatures needed to reach the mandatory 15 000. The spokesperson added that Yurukov's UDF has already submitted the majority of the required registration documents.

 

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