3 OF THE REFERENDUM QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE TEAM OF SLAVI TRIFONOV HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BY BULGARIA’S PRESIDENT

On 27th of May, three of the referendum questions initiated by the team of a TV show host Slavi Trifonov were referred to the Constitutional Court by Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev. They are among the 6 questions proposed by the team for a national referendum, which were approved, without amendment, by Bulgaria’s National Assembly on 12th of May.

The President asks the Constitutional Court to rule whether 3 of the questions contradict the Constitution. They are about whether to introduce voting from a distance and electronically in elections and referendums; whether the number of MPs should be reduced to 120 (from 240) and whether heads of district directorates of the Ministry of Interior and heads of regional police stations should be elected on the basis of a majority-rule voting with absolute majority in two rounds.

The statement to the press reminds that President Rosen Plevneliev has always supported the active civil society and backed the understanding that holding referendums on important issues will strengthen the trust in the political system and may lead to a more stable political environment. However, according to him, this cannot be achieved if the direct and representative democracy is implemented in the conditions of disrespecting the constitutional principles, one of which is the rule of law.

Plevneliev has reminded about the decision of the 7th Grand National Assembly, according to which new Constitution, as well as the most important amendments to the existing one, can be adopted only by Grand National Assembly. The President believes it is very important that referendums develop on the basis of clear rules, otherwise there is a risk that the direct democracy will be adversely affected and the public may lose trust in it.

photo:BTA