President Radev: The new Central Election Commission will take office on May 11

President Rumen Radev on May 5 started consultations with the parties and coalitions represented in Parliament, related to the amendments to the Electoral Code adopted by the 45th National Assembly last week. According to them, the head of state should appoint the new 15 members of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

GERB-UDF coalition will have four representatives in CEC. “There is Such a People" and the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will have three each. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the coalition "Democratic Bulgaria" will have two each. "Rise up! Thugs out!" will have one representative.

The President will take nominations of the political parties for CEC members today. The hearing of the nominees will take place on May 7, so that the decree for their appointment could be issued on May 11.

Rumen Radev was adamant to party representatives saying that the President does not elect the CEC and recalled that the parliamentary groups and coalitions nominate candidates and leadership, and that the President only promulgates the decision with an act.

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Bulgaria’s Parliament passed at second reading on April 29 amendments to the Electoral Code, which provide for a number of changes to the election process.

The lawmakers approved a proposal to reduce the Central Election Commission from 20 members to 15, changing also the procedures for appointing its members.

The members of the Central Election Commission will be appointed by Bulgaria’s President upon a proposal of the political parties and coalitions represented in Parliament. The parties and coalitions will nominate the Central Election Commission’s chairperson, deputy chairperson and secretary, but the entire commission will be appointed by a Presidential decree, following public consultations and a procedure determined by the head of state.

Parties and coalitions represented in the European Parliament, but not in Bulgaria’s Parliament, will no longer have representatives at the Central Election Commission.

The Parliament also approved 100% machine voting in polling stations with more than 300 voters. The number of polling stations abroad will be unlimited