Patriotic Front

The partners in Bulgaria's governing coalition plan to propose further amendments to election rules in an effort to address some of the deficiencies of recently adopted changes to the Electoral Code.

Bulgaria's Parliament rejected on Wednesday the presidential veto on disputed changes to election rules concerning the opening of polling stations abroad.

The veto imposed by President Rosen Plevneliev last week was rejected by 135 members of the 240-seat National Assembly.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that President Rosen Plevneliev has correctly vetoed the recent amendments to the Electoral Code concerning the voting abroad.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will meet GERB leadership and MPs on Tuesday to decide what course of action the biggest partner in the governing coalition will take after  President Rosen Plevneliev said he would veto disputed changes to the Electoral Code concerning voting abroad.

National Ombudsman Maya Manolova has said she sides with Bulgarian citizens abroad disgruntled with Electoral Code amendments preventing them from exercising their right to vote.

A row emerged on Tuesday between Valeri Simeonov, the co-chair of nationalist Patriotic Front coalition, and a representative of Bulgarians abroad over Electoral Code amendments.

In less than a week, bans on the wearing of Muslim face-covering garments, initiated by the nationalist Patriotic Front coalition, have already been proposed or voted upon in four regional cities in Bulgaria ahead of an upcoming parliamentary vote on a law that would prohibit them right across the country.

A ban on the use of veils covering most of the face is also to be considered in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city.

A proposal has been submitted by municipal councilors from the nationalist Patriotic Front coalition, Darik Radio reports citing Aleksandar Sidi from VMRO, which is one of PF's two main parties.

Bulgarian lawmakers have backtracked on a blanket ban on opening polling stations outside of Bulgaria's diplomatic missions to other countries.

Under the new rules approved on Thursday afternoon, the restrictions will not be in force for the territory of the EU where there are embassies or consulates.

Pazardzhik became the first Bulgarian city to ban the wearing of veils covering the face in public places, BNR public radio broadcaster reported on Wednesday.

The city parliament approved the ban in a 39-2 vote with no abstentions, according to BNR.