GERB to amend the Electoral Code in Parliament

No election tourism of Turkish citizens with Bulgarian passports arriving with buses will be allowed, guarantees GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria), stated yesterday the Chairwoman of the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Iskra Fidosova. She participated in bTV's morning block, where she entered into a sharp dispute with the Vice-Chairman of the parliamentary group (PG) of Coalition for Bulgaria, Mihail Mikov on the essence of the decision of the Constitutional Court. In the late afternoon, Fidosova announced at a parliamentary briefing that the GERB PG had submitted amendments to the Electoral Code in accordance with the Constitutional Court's decision of May 4. According to the MP, as early as Wednesday, the Legal Affairs Committee will consider the amendments but these may be reviewed by lawmakers as an exceptional item on the Parliament's agenda in the plenary hall as early as Friday, May 13.

GERB proposed the validity period of the permanent residence permit for the Republic of Bulgarian (RB) to be shortened from 12 to 6 months. This permit is necessary for Bulgarians with dual citizenship for the election of municipal councillors and mayors when they exercise both their active and passive suffrage. Another amendment refers to the refund of the deposit submitted by the parties and initiative committees, upon the receival of 1% of the valid votes, rather than 2% as pursuant to the Electoral Code.

Iskra Fidosova also indicated that the Constitutional Court had failed to rule on the 10-month validity period of the permanent residence permit for the RB granting voting rights in this year's autumn elections, not only because the Opposition had failed to attack this text. She admitted that the judges had already considered the fact that some of the procedures relating to the upcoming elections had already started and gave as an example the drawing up of ballot papers and documents.

Earlier yesterday, BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party) warned again that it would refer the Electoral Code to the Constitutional Court in case GERB fails to waive the requirement for a 10-month validity period of the Bulgarian permanent residence permit necessary for participation in elections. According to Mikov, the myth of election tourism has led to excessive restriction of the citizens' rights. The left-wing lawmaker described the controversial situation with the Electoral code as "a complete mess" but assured that BSP will actively partake in the taking of legislative decisions which are urgently needed for the smooth running of the elections.

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