Key Bulgarian Socialist Party MP Maya Manolova. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria’s ruling Socialist Party has firmly opposed President Rosen Plevneliev’s proposal for major changes to the country’s election legislation.
In a televised address to the nation late on Wednesday, Plevneliev proposed a referendum in which Bulgarians will have their say on whether they want to elect some of their MPs directly rather than from party lists, voting made obligatory and electronic voting allowed.
But key Bulgarian Socialist Party lawmaker Maya Manolova claimed on Thursday that making voting obligatory and allowing electronic voting would be “unconstitutional.”
Manolova argued that voting is a right and not an obligation under the country’s constitution, adding that electronic voting would “seriously violate the secret of the vote.”
Bulgaria’s embattled Socialist-led government, which has so far survived despite eight months of relentless anti-graft protests, has firmly refused to back Plevneliev’s proposal.
If approved by Parliament, which appears highly unlikely, the referendum would take place along with the European elections in May.