GERB Backs Holding Referendum on Compulsory Voting alongside 2015 Local Elections

Ruling center-right party GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) has made clear that it mulls holding a referendum on compulsory voting alongside the local elections in the autumn of 2015.

The idea, put forth by Nayden Zelenogorski, Deputy Chair of the Reformist Bloc, was backed by Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Deputy Chair of GERB.

Speaking Monday in Smolyan, Tsvetanov suggested that a referendum on the introduction of compulsory voting could be held alongside the local elections.

The Deputy Chair of GERB did not rule out the opportunity of including a question on electronic voting in the referendum, according to investor.bg.

Tsvetanov expressed hope that the majority of Bulgarians would back compulsory voting.

He noted that Bulgarians living abroad were strongly in favor of the introduction of electronic voting.

The referendum on compulsory voting was part of the election platform of GERB and was also included in the coalition agreement with the Reformist Bloc.

The organization of the referendum on compulsory voting is also backed by the Patriotic Front, the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV) Movement, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and Ataka, with liberal party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) being the sole opponent.

In his Monday statement, Tsvetanov also drew attention to the fact that Parliament was reviewing changes to the Interior Ministry Act were through which the Chief Directorate 'Combating Organized Crime' (GDBOP) would be returned within the structure of the Interior, adding that he expected the anti-mafia unit to re-occupy its "natural" place by end-February.