Stanishev's Proposal of Early Elections in July Divides Opinions

BSP leader Sergey Stanishev's comments that early elections should be called in July prompted mixed reactions as to whether elections could be held within such a period.

Mihail Konstantinov, a mathematician and former Deputy Chair of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), told online agency OFFNews he was "astonished" at what Stanishev said Tuesday.

He described the scenario of early elections in June as "impossible".

"My surprise stems from [the fact] that until now I thought anyone in this country reads the Constitution," Konstantinov argued and added that was obviously not the case. "It is the level of literacy that surprises me in Bulgarian politicians," he noted, pointing October 12 as a more favourable date for an early vote.

Public broadcaster BNR quotes political scientist and elections expert Dimitar Dimitrov as saying that it was "not possible to organize elections by the end of July".

He explained that under Bulgaria's Constitution and Election code a minimum of 80 to 90 days are required for preparation. In his view, the announcement of the socialist leader was designed to trigger an "information bomb". "The earliest date possible is in August, but as nobody holds elections in August, we are returning to the initial version - September," Dimitrov elaborated, referring to an earlier statement by BSP Executive Bureau members who hinted that month was a likely time for the early vote.

However, despite echoing the voices rejecting a general poll in July, CEC spokesman Aleksandar Andreev underscored that timing also depended on the constitutional procedure as it would be carried out by politicians, with the President having to hand to political leaders the mandate for creating a new...