Bulgarian Socialists, Conservatives Register for Fall Elections

Twenty nine political formations have submitted election registration documents with the Bulgarian Central Election Commission, CEC, by Monday.

The registration deadline for the October 23 local and presidential elections is August 8. The Coalitions, approved by CEC, can register by August 18.

Two parliamentary represented parties are expected to register Monday – the major opposition formation, the left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, and the conservative Order, Law and Justice party, RZS.

In addition to the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, others that already registered include the Community of Democratic Forces, ODS, the Radical Party, the nationalist VMRO, the Bulgarian Democratic Forum, the Roma party Evroroma, and the Union of Free Democrats, SSD, of former Mayor of Sofia, Stefan Sofiyanski, who is entering again the mayoral race, among others, along with several regional and business parties such as LIDER of energy mogul, with a suspended sentence for tax evasion, Hristo Kovachki, Middle European Class and Liberal Alliance, respectively from the Black Sea cities of Burgas and Varna.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian daily Trud (Labor) writes, citing own, undisclosed sources that there is a court claim against the CEC decision that voters can sign only one party election petition for the local elections since the Election Code does not include such ban. The petitions are needed for registration with CEC.