BULGARIA’S PRESIDENT ROSEN PLEVNELIEV CALLED FOR TOLERANT AND CONSTRUCTIVE PRE-ELECTION DEBATE

In a special speech at the official start of the European Parliament elections campaign on 25th April, Bulgaria’s President Rosen Plevneliev called for tolerant and constrictive pre-election debate.

He expressed disappointment that his proposal about a national referendum on changes to the voting rules to be held at the same time as the elections to the European Parliament was not adopted. Plevneliev reminded that over 570 000 signatures in support of the referendum were collected in just a few weeks, but according to his words the ruling government pretended that the referendum idea and its supporters did not exist.

The Head of State noted that Bulgaria should not only declaratively opposed to the idea of two-speed Europe. He emphasized that the country had to add value to the European Union, especially in a crucial time, and should not sit quietly in the corner or play the role of someone’s “Trojan horse”.

Plevneliev said that voter turnout was directly dependent on what the politicians propose in terms of topics, positions and behaviour and added that striving to deter mass voters in order to control hard-core vote would not lead to any good. Such “success” would be deceptive. The President urged the politicians competing in the elections to leave aside the personal attacks and hostility and to engage in a meaningful dialogue.