BULGARIA’S PRESIDENT ISSUED A DECREE TO SET THE DATE FOR A NATIONAL REFERENDUM

On 16th of August, Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev issued a decree to set the date for a national referendum on 6th of November 2016. The questions that will be asked at the referendum are as follows:

1. Do you support to elect the MPs through a majority system with absolute majority in two rounds?

2. Do you support the introduction of compulsory voting at elections and referendums?

3. Do you support the idea for the annual state subsidy allocated for financing of the political parties and coalitions to be BGN 1 for each real vote received at the last general elections?

According to Art. 98 item 1 of the Constitution, the President sets the date for a national referendum. The law on the direct participation of citizens in government and local government provides for regular elections and national referendum to be held on the same date when there is decision made by the National Assembly for a national referendum.

President Plevneliev believes that early setting of the date for the national referendum will allow the state authorities and political parties to participate in the preparation and organization of the national referendum and the public to make informed choices.