Bulgarian Court Nods Election Lottery

Politics | June 15, 2005, Wednesday // 00:00

The Supreme Administrative Court in Sofia has rejected the complaints brought by opposition parties against the BGN 17 M (approximately EUR 8.5 M) state budget for elections.

The complaints of four political parties and coalitions - left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria, right-wing Union of Democratic Forces, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, led by former prime minister Ivan Kostov and the Movement for National Unity and Social Justice - were not accepted by the court, the five-member committee announced on Wednesday.

The opposition challenged the decision to endow the foreign minister with the right to decide where to set up polling stations abroad, as well as the lottery conceived to boost voter turnout, which will be funded by BGN 4 M of the state budget.

The parties claim that the government has breached the Constitution by approving the budget of the campaign on May 20, then backdating it to May 19 and implementing it. Part of the budget is to be allotted for a prize draw, used as a vote-boosting strategy among the voters.

The court members found opposition arguments on both charges unwarranted. Their decision is final with no right of appeal, it was announced.

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