Bulgaria's CEC formation begins with criticism of Vice President Iotova

The process to form Bulgaria's new Central Election Commission (CEC) has ignited a conflict between the We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB) coalition and Vice President Iliana Iotova. The disagreement, which surfaced late last week, centers on appointments made by the vice president.

WCC-DB parliamentary group co-chair Atanas Atanasov stated that the math for forming the new CEC is precise and that the vice president's proposals were not aligned with the parliamentary majority's expectations. He specifically criticized Iotova for not consulting with the parliamentary groups before submitting her nominations, asserting that the CEC should reflect the composition of the National Assembly.

Atanasov emphasized that the CEC's formation is a purely mathematical and legal process. He indicated that if the vice president's nominations are not accepted, the National Assembly will proceed with its own proposals. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches regarding electoral body appointments.