Bulgarian MPs on Tough Debate of New Election Law

Domestic | February 12, 2014, Wednesday // 13:30|  views

Photo by BGNES.

The Bulgarian Parliament has extended its working time till late in the evening as the second reading of the new Election Code is under way in plenary Wednesday.

Among the chief innovations and subjects of debate is the re-introduction of preferential voting for national and European elections.

Some MPs have vowed for the introduction of a number of MP seats to be filled using majority vote, but this is unlikely to pass.

The new Election Code was developed by an ad hoc committee chaired by Parliament Vice Speaker Maya Manolova, MP for the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

Critics have said that the draft law fails to introduce any major changes in Bulgaria's election system, which were deemed necessary by some.

Many have argued for the need for greater choice for voters, including less stringent requirements for the registration of independent candidates.

MPs from the informal ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party - Movement for Rights and Freedoms coalition hope for the new bill to enter into force for European Elections 2014 in May.

But it is expected that Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev will likely veto the act, which would then necessitate a reconsideration by Parliament.

End of January Plevneliev proposed that Parliament call a referendum asking Bulgarian voters to choose on three topics: the introduction of partial majority voting, obligatory voting, and electronic voting.

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Tags: Bulgarian Parliament, Rosen Plevneliev, European elections 2014, Election Code, Maya Manolova, Bulgarian Socialist Party, Movement for Rights and Freedoms

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