Bulgarians, residing abroad, sent a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister, Nikolay Mladenov, and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, insisting on having their support in organizing a vote for Public Councils in October. The vote is to be held simultaneously with the presidential and local elections in Bulgaria in the fall.
The authors remind that as early as 2000, the Law for Bulgarians Living outside Republic of Bulgaria has been passed, providing for the establishment of a National Council of Bulgarians Abroad, which is to have nine members, five of whom from the diaspora. The same law provides for creating consulting bodies of Bulgarian communities abroad at Bulgarian diplomatic representations in the respective country.
“Eleven years later these bodies are yet to materialize… As we note violations of the rights of Bulgarians abroad, we, Bulgarian citizens from France, the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Spain and Brazil, declare that we are forming Temporary Public Councils of Bulgarians in the above listed countries under Article 5, Paragraph 3 of the Law” the letter reads.
The diaspora further insists on the organization of elections to vote on legitimate and representative Public Councils in the respective countries, simultaneously with the presidential and local elections.
Full Article: Bulgarian Expats Demand Having Own Public Councils – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency.