Referendum on Compulsory Voting Might Be Held with Local Elections

It emerged that a national referendum on the possible amendments to the electoral rules is likely to be held along with the local elections, which are scheduled to take place in Bulgaria in the autumn.

The idea is supported by all parties of the governing coalition, together with the oppositional Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and nationalist Ataka, daily Sega reports.

Only the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) is firmly against the proposal.

At present the only question that is to feature with certainty in the referendum is that on compulsory voting.

At the opening of the new parliamentary season on Wednesday, the main ruling party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) declared its staunch support for compulsory voting as it represented a reliable measure against vote buying.

GERB's position comes only five days after its leader and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that he was against anything that was compulsory.

Prior to that, Borisov and other GERB officials had expressed support for compulsory voting on numerous occasions and GERB even intended on introducing it through amendments to the Election Code, without holding a referendum.

However during the negotiations on the formation of cabinet, the four coalition partners agreed that such a referendum should take place, which was included in the programme declaration of the governing majority.

BSP confirmed its position in favour of a national referendum on compulsory voting on Wednesday.

But in case a referendum takes place, BSP will demand the inclusion of an option to "vote against all" on the ballot paper, for those who are not satisfied with what is on offer.

Maya Manolova, member of parliament from BSP, declared...