Bulgaria MPs Approve New Vote Buying Punishments

Bulgarian MPs have passed a new set of punishments for anyone found to be involved in 'vote buying' after the second reading of a new bill Thursday.

Anyone found to be involved in vote rigging or buying will now receive a jail term of 1-3 years and a fine of between BGN 1 000 and BGN 10 000. This new law includes anyone found threatening or conning voters during local or national elections, BGNES reported.

For more serious offences judges will be able to give a jail term of up to 6 years and a fine of up to BGN 20 000.

The bill was passed soon after Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, called on all political parties to slam vote buying practices.

"Vote buying is nothing new but it has recently entered court-rooms," Velchev stated. He expressed concerns that this practice may cast a shadow over the upcoming general and EP elections in the summer.