Ruling GERB party: April 4 is acceptable date for the elections, we will not table changes to electoral legislation

Representatives of the ruling GERB party, Toma Bikov and Georg Georgiev, made a statement to journalists on the occasion of setting April 4 as the date for the parliamentary elections, which President Rumen Radev announced earlier on January 14. Throughout the summer, President Rumen Radev spoke about and demanded elections in October or November. Then, on December 7, he said that March 28 will be the date. A month later, consultations began with all political forces, the health authorities and the Central Election Commission. All of them declared their readiness to organize and appear on March 28. Following this consensus, the President showed that he was unable to live in a consensus environment and set April 4 as the date, Toma Bikov said at the beginning of his statement.

The President proposed that in the short time, until the end of the term of this Parliament and a few days before the regular parliamentary elections, changes be made in the electoral legislation that affect its foundation and philosophy. We will not table any of the changes that Radev proposed, Bikov was firm. The reason is that such an approach would destroy trust in the electoral process and serve unclear interests. We will do everything possible to increase the voter turnout and we call on the voters to exercise their right to vote, the MP added.

The exciting question is whose date is April 4 and what difference does it make with a week earlier - March 28, commented Georg Georgiev. The President wanted to hold elections in the autumn, and now he suddenly says there is time. There is time for what, the GERB representative asked rhetorically. At the moment, the President wants us to violate the advice of the Venice Commission, to be in conflict with good practices and everything that could make the elections transparent, fair and open to Bulgarian citizens, he added.

Georg Georgiev said that April 4 is the Catholic Easter, and there is a large Catholic community in Bulgaria. In addition, many Bulgarians abroad are in Catholic countries, and this election date could create problems in exercising their right to vote. If the President does not understand, I will explain - it is not the machines and the envelopes that vote, but we must fight for the trust of the people, concluded Toma Bikov.