Central Election Commission decided to accept the papers from both MRF factions simultaneously

The Central Election Commission (CEC) on September 2 decided to accept the papers from both factions in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) - the one behind Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan and the other behind Delyan Peevski. This was decided at a meeting of CEC prompted by the stand-off between the two factions.

The decision to accept the papers of the two factions simultaneously, without allocating sequence numbers to them, was taken with eight votes in favour and three against.

On Monday, CEC began accepting documents for registration of parties and coalitions for participation in the snap parliamentary elections on October 27. Parties can submit documents every working day until September 11.

The registration of parties and coalitions was delayed by several hours as representatives of the two MRF factions had been outside the CEC building over the weekend trying to race each other to be the first to register, thus disturbing the process.

In a message released shortly after midnight, Delyan Peevski said that MRF-New Beginning "is already a fact". "At 00:05 on September 2, 2024, we submitted an electronically signed application for registration for the upcoming elections for the 51st National Assembly. We are innovative and modern. We are together in the name of people. The best is yet to come!" he said.

In front of the CEC building, Valentin Tonchev of the other faction said that he and Ibrahim Zaidenov were authorized by MRF Chair Dzhevdet Chakarov and will register the MRF with leader Ahmed Dogan for the upcoming elections.