Central Election Commission refused to register the coalitions of the two MRF factions

A month and a half before the October 27 early parliamentary elections, it is still unclear how the two factions in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) will run in the elections.

The Central Election Commission (CEC) on September 9 refused to register the coalitions of both factions in the MRF: “Democracy, Rights and Freedoms – MRF” of those loyal to MRF Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan, and “MRF - New Beginning” of Delyan Peevski.

Minutes after the decision of CEC, representatives of the faction loyal to Dogan announced that they had submitted documents to the CEC for the MRF to stand independently in the elections. A reaction followed from Delyan Peevski - he asked the CEC to withdraw the application for the party's independent registration, and later filed an appeal with the Supreme Administrative Court for the refusal of the coalition's registration. Today, it also became clear that no application for changes in the leadership of the MRF has been filed with the Sofia City Court.

Both decisions to refuse registration of the respective coalition were supported by 15 votes each. The CEC's reasoning - neither of the two coalitions complied with the instructions to remove the MRF party from the coalition. Election Code does not allow one party to be in more than one coalition. It is not clear whether the coalitions will appeal the CEC's decision. The parties have three days to do so.

Shortly before 12.00 it became clear that both political formations with MRF in their composition were refused registration by the CEC.

"I propose that CEC take a decision to refuse to register the coalition "Democracy, Rights and Freedoms - MRF" for participation in the elections. Our instructions to these two coalitions were aimed at only one thing - to allow the internal party conflict to be resolved in a way that the decision to resolve it would be at the will of the MRF voters," said Tsvetozar Tomov, deputy chairman of the CEC.

"My proposal is to refuse registration to the Coalition for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning. In the CEC's e-mail at 00.05 on 2 September there was an application, which was submitted to the CEC's office, but it does not have the necessary documents attached, it is part of the file on the application submitted and entered in the register on 2 September at 15.03", noted Elka Stoyanova, CEC member.

Instead of untangling, however, the issue became further entangled - the press centre of the MRF with leader Ahmed Dogan announced that they had already submitted documents for the MRF to participate in the elections independently. Shortly afterwards, Delyan Peevski asked the CEC to withdraw the application for the party's independent registration for the parliamentary elections, submitted earlier by representatives of the other chairman, Javdet Chakurov. According to constitutional law professor Orlin Kolev, since a party cannot participate both in a coalition and independently, the court would not allow MRF to be registered as an independent party.

BNT: If the CEC does allow it, register them, and the court's decision is different?

"Well, then it can be considered in one particular proceeding, but if it is not considered, it can be further challenged and again the SAC will make its decision, but if it has previously decided that the MRF will participate in a coalition, so it will apply the law and will not allow subsequent registration of the MRF either in a coalition or as an independent entity," explained Orlin Kolev - professor of constitutional law.

According to Orlin Kolev, the appeal of the CEC's decision before the Supreme Administrative Court is the expected step for both coalitions.

"I think that the Supreme Court will merge these two proceedings into one. Because they have the same subject matter and of course the outcome of these two appeals will determine in practice where the MRF will participate, in which coalition it will participate," said Orlin Kolev, a professor of constitutional law.

According to the Sofia City Court, the MRF has not yet filed an application to request that the changes in the leadership of the MRF be noted in the party's register, as well as that the new seal be registered. On 27 August, the press centre of MRF faction loyal to Ahmed Dogan circulated an announcement that the Central Operative Bureau of the Movement for Rights and Freedom had decided to dismiss Delyan Peevski as chairman of the MRF and had approved new seal models.

The questions remains open - which details will prove decisive for the court given that the two applications for registration were submitted at the same time, but the email application is also part of the file of one of the coalitions.

"The time of filing of the e-form is clear."

BNT: So that could be of key importance?

"I would say it could be important in view of the totality of all those additional grounds and requisites that the SAC would consider in the present proceedings," said Orlin Kolev.

Although 11 September is the deadline set by the CEC for the registration of the ;parties and ccoalitions for the elections, it may be extended because of the MRF case.

Legal absurdities surrounding the registration of MRF and BSP for the October early parliamentary elections are deepening