Parliament Chaos Ends with Vote Excluding Bulgarians Abroad from Polls
The recent decision by Bulgaria’s National Assembly has significant implications for its citizens living abroad. After a prolonged debate of over ten hours, lawmakers passed amendments to the Electoral Code. These changes notably limit the number of polling stations established outside the European Union.
Key Amendments to the Electoral Code
The new rules restrict the number of polling stations in non-EU nations to a maximum of 20. Moreover, polling stations will only be established if more than 40 applications are received. These measures effectively reduce the number of available polling stations for Bulgarians abroad by approximately eight times compared to previous elections.
Debate Highlights
The discussion was characterized by intense disagreements. The political group “Revival” introduced the proposal, which faced strong opposition from the coalition “We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria” (WCC-DB). WCC-DB members criticized the legislation as a strategic move to limit voting rights for Bulgarians living outside the EU.
- WCC-DB MP Nadezhda Yordanova argued the amendments were poorly justified and aimed at punishing voters.
- On the other hand, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) supported the changes, citing financial concerns over election funding for expatriates.
BSP parliamentary leader Dragomir Stoynev questioned the fairness of funding elections for citizens who do not pay taxes in Bulgaria. He suggested that voters abroad should bear the costs of expanded voting opportunities themselves. In reply, Martin Dimitrov of WCC-DB emphasized the significant contributions Bulgarians abroad make to the national budget through remittances.
Political Reactions and Consequences
The amendments sparked warnings from the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS), accentuating that these changes create barriers to voting for Bulgarians abroad. In contrast, “Revival” MP Tsoncho Ganev defended the proposal, arguing that historical voting patterns relied on “coerced votes” from citizens in countries like Türkiye.
- The opposition strategy aimed to thwart the voting process by extending speeches to disrupt quorum.
- During the debate, Asen Vassilev from WCC delivered a lengthy address, reviewing voting statistics from key locations.
Despite contestations, the vote to limit polling stations passed, backed by the support of GERB, BSP, TISP, and “Revival.” Many opposition members, including those from WCC-DB and APS, expressed intentions to challenge these amendments in the Constitutional Court, insisting they infringe on the voting rights of expatriates.
Future Implications
As the law stands, there are now strict guidelines on the number of polling stations outside Bulgaria’s diplomatic missions. The creation of an “Abroad” constituency has also been postponed until 2028, indicating ongoing debates about the representation of Bulgarians living internationally.
This situation will undoubtedly influence the political landscape and voting dynamics for Bulgarians outside the EU in future elections.
