site.btaCC-DB's Nadejda Iordanova Urges Presidential Veto on Cap of 20 Polling Stations Outside EU

Limiting the number of polling stations to a maximum of 20 in countries outside the European Union will significantly hinder many Bulgarians abroad from exercising their right to vote in the upcoming elections, said Nadejda Iordanova, co-leader of the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition and a ranking member of the Yes, Bulgaria party, speaking to journalists in the National Assembly lobby on Thursday. Her remarks were quoted in a press release of Yes, Bulgaria.

The proposed restriction on the number of polling stations in non-EU countries was being discussed in the legislature’s plenary chamber on Thursday.

Iordanova, who is also former justice minister, told the media: “Today in parliament an assault is being carried out against the voting rights of Bulgarian citizens who live outside the territory of the European Union. Their access to polling stations is being restricted to no more than 20 outside consular and diplomatic missions. This will substantially impede their right to cast their vote and runs counter to the Constitution, which states that Bulgarians have universal and equal voting rights, and that Bulgarians outside the territory of Bulgaria have equal rights with all other Bulgarian citizens, regardless of where they are. The limit of 20 polling stations is disproportionate, unfounded, violates the spirit of the Constitution, and we call on President Iotova to impose a veto.”

MP Yordan Ivanov added that the restriction is part of a political order that the Vazrazhdane party is carrying out in the service of GERB and MRF – New Beginning. “Vazrazhdane are helping GERB, who are traditionally weak abroad, and MRF – New Beginning, by obstructing votes for [Bulgaria's] Alliance for Rights and Freedoms in Turkiye. It is crucial and important for GERB’s and Vazrazhdane’s voters to understand what services they are doing for each other, as Mr Borissov [the GERB leader] said that he had taken on commitments to Vazrazhdane. What other services have they done for one another, apart from protecting each other’s immunities?” Ivanov asked rhetorically.

Asked about the state budget, Nadejda Iordanova reiterated CC–DB’s position that an extension budget is necessary to ensure calm and clarity on how public services will be funded with taxpayers’ money. “This government has fallen precisely because of its inability and arrogance in failing to put together an adequate budget that does not steal from people’s pockets. The outgoing government has no credibility whatsoever to propose a new budget,” Iordanova concluded.