Bulgarian PM Agrees with Presidential Veto on Electoral Code Amendments

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that President Rosen Plevneliev has correctly vetoed the recent amendments to the Electoral Code concerning the voting abroad.

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Borisov added that the previous Electoral Code had been much better, but MPs from his party approved the latest amendments under pressure from the Patriotic Front (PF), one of the parties supporting the coalition government.

PF had initially proposed Bulgarians abroad to be able to vote solely at embassies and consulates in an attempt to end malpractices conducted at polling stations in Turkey.

MPs relaxed some of the restrictions after Bulgarians abroad protested the controversial amendments.

Borisov identified the idea of PF as noble one, but restricting the right of many Bulgarians to vote abroad.

The prime minister explained that the initial idea had been to amend the Electoral Code in the part concerning the holding of referendums, but once the process was started, other amendments were adopted as well.

He said that he has been firmly against the restrictions from the start and the government has readinees to open polling stations in places outside the EU where more than a hundred Bulgarians submit a request to vote.

Under the latest amendments, polling stations outside the EU can be opened only at diplomatic missions and cities with a population above one million.

Borisov expressed confidence that at the forthcoming meeting with the parties supporting the coalition on Tuesday, he will be able to find common language with PF and reach reasonable solution.

On Saturday, Plevneliev vetoed the amendments to the Electoral Code concerning the voting abroad.

PF criticized the presidential veto, saying that it represents threat to national security and the party threatened to withdraw its support from the government.

According to Borisov, the PF does not threaten the stability of the government, as the party is not part of the ruling coalition, but only supports it.

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