Bulgaria President Vetoes New Election Act

Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, returned Wednesday the Election Act to the Parliament requesting a new discussion of the amendments.

Parvanov's move was widely anticipated. The President's veto, however, is only obliging the Members of the Parlaiment (MPs) to hold another reading on the changes adopted Tuesday, and cannot block them.

The imposing of the veto is based on the article 101, paragraph 1 of the Constitution of Republic of Bulgaria.

The State Leader demands the MPs reexamine the amendments regarding raising the threshold for coalitions to enter the Parliament from 4% to 8% of the cast votes.

Parvanov has proposed many times to increase the conditions for parties' registrations in order to create obstacles for the so-called "ghost parties," but the Parliament instead unjustifiably raised the coalition threshold, the press release issued by the Presidential Office reads.

The President warned as early as two weeks ago that he would impose a veto of the Election Act amendments in case the Parliament changed the rules at the last minute and increased the threshold, basing his position on the need of clarity and consistency in the policy.

The 4% barrier, already used in Bulgaria for 18 years, corresponds to the election systems of other European Union Member States and has proven its positive sides by helping to avoid the extreme fragmentation of the Parliament and by stabilizing the executive power, according to the President.

Parvanov further warns that the high election threshold could prove an obstacle for political pluralism and lead to the establishment of artificial Parliamentary majorities.

The President voices his support for the majority electoral system and states that the possibility to elect 31 MPs via majority vote was a good compromise.

Parvanov further says that he has decided to return the Act immediately in order to avoid wasting even more precious time before the fast approaching election date, adding he hoped on the MPs swift reaction for the same reason.

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