site.btaNo Constitutional Rights of Bulgarian Citizens Have Been Violated by Election Code Changes, BSP-United Left Deputy Floor Leader Says

Commenting on the adopted amendments to the Election Code, BSP-United Left Deputy Floor Leader Maya Dimitrova said Friday she does not believe that the constitutional rights of any Bulgarian citizen have been violated.

Parliament Thursday conclusively adopted amendments to the Election Code that slash the number of polling stations for Bulgarian elections in countries outside the EU. Proposed by Vazrazhdane, the revisions say that the polling stations set up outside Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions in countries that are not members of the EU may not be more than 20.

Dimitrova stressed that Bulgarians living in countries outside the EU are not restricted in their rights or opportunities to vote. “Every Bulgarian citizen has the right to exercise their vote, regardless of where they live. We do not divide Bulgarians according to the countries in which they reside,” she said.

She explained that the amendments have not yet been promulgated in the State Gazette and still need to be sent to the President to be signed. “If there is no presidential veto, the amendments will enter into force as part of the Election Code,” she added.

Dimitrova also assured that there are no political agreements with any party, including Vazrazhdane.

She added that MP Hristo Rastashki of MECh had proposed introducing a different number of polling stations for EU and non-EU countries, but this proposal was rejected. “Every country must treat Bulgarian citizens equally. If there is a restriction on polling stations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, there must be the same restriction for Turkiye as well. We do not divide Bulgarian citizens,” Dimitrova said.