Bulgaria FinMin: PES Leader Must Resign over Referendum

PES and Bulgarian Socialist Party chair Sergey Stanishev should resign over the outcome of Sunday's referendum on nuclear energy in Bulgaria, stated Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov.

As results from exit polls come in, political leaders have engaged in a heated battle of interpretations on the outcome.

Some 60% of ballots cast answered positively to the referendum question - whether Bulgaria needs a new NPP - the position supported by the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

The turnout is expected to be a bit over 20%, which means that the issue will have to be referred back to parliament.

While the Socialists are attempting to interpret the result as a win and as a slap in the face of the cabinet, PM Boyko Borisov, ministers and others supporting the 'no' position interpret the results as a loss for the other side.

"Now Stanishev must file his resignation for supporting the organization of this pointless referendum, the results of which were known well in advance," said Djankov.

According to the Bulgarian Minister of Finance, the ballot casting was only a waste of scarce financial resource.

While the positive vote and the over-20% refer the question to parliament, a numerical voter turnout equal to that of the last parliamentary elections (60%) plus a positive vote would have guaranteed a binding outcome of the poll.