Bulgaria MP Committee Passes Questions in Voting Rules Referendum

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev says it should be up to citizens to say if the present voting systems requires a democratic boost. Photo by BGNES

Lawmakers in Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee have given the green light to questions due to be put to a vote in a referendum on election rules this autumn.

The three issues on which citizens should have a say are the introduction of a partial majority system, mandatory voting, and e-voting.

Earlier this year, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevenliev renewed his effort to secure the referendum he had proposed in 2014, which was back then rejected by the previous elected government.

The opposition, however, cast doubt on the wording of some questions, triggering a debate on whether Bulgarians should be asked about the introduction of a full or a partial introduction of a majority system.

Initially the question was whether "part" of lawmakers should be elected using the majority system, and this wording was kept by MPs at the Committee.

Center-right GERB, the senior coalition partner in Bulgaria's government, insisted during the Committee session that editing the President's questions was "unacceptable".

This sparked outrage from opposition parties such as the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), which was the main supporter of a full majority system and is expected to call for dropping the question on compulsory voting in a forthcoming plenary session.

Left-wing ABV, which has a minister in the government, is also ready to submit its own proposals which will include a mixed voting regime with half MPs elected under a proportional system.

The referendum will be held along with local elections due on October 25.

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