The parliamentary commission for direct citizen participation, complaints, and interaction with civil society approved on first reading a bill to amend and supplement the Law on Direct Citizen Participation in State Power and Local Self-Government. The changes, introduced by Kostadin Kostadinov and a group of MPs, concern the procedure for initiating and proposing referendums.
Dimitar Gyurev (“Vazrazhdane”) presented the proposals, emphasizing that the changes provide for facilitating the procedure for holding a referendum and expanding the issues for consultation. The restriction on national referendums to decide issues regulated in international treaties is removed, and the threshold of signatures for discussions in the National Assembly and for holding a referendum is changed.
Dimo Drenchev (“Vazrazhdane”) expressed support for the changes, pointing out a desire for more frequent consultation with citizens. Petar Kyosev (“We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria”) emphasized the importance of the information campaign and warned of abuses of referendums. Rositsa Kirova (GERB-SDS) supported the bill, but noted the need to refine the texts. Dimitar Ivanov (GERB-SDS) also supported the bill, highlighting the importance of an in-depth campaign.
Stiliana Bobcheva (“Velichie”) supported the bill, stressing that the people should be asked. Zahari Yankov, chairman of the Public Council to the commission, called on the MPs to reconsider their positions and emphasized the need for a real public discussion.