I voted against the provision restricting the voting rights of Bulgarian citizens living in countries outside the European Union. By the way, so did the entire Parliamentary Group of the MRF-NEW BEGINNING, as well as all texts which restrict or violate the constitutionally enshrined rights of all Bulgarian citizens - to have the right to vote and to be elected.
Much has been said in the debate regarding the fact that such provisions do not show our country in a very democratic way not only to the civilized world, but also to all Bulgarian citizens. But I want to remind you here that the entire 36-year history of the existence of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms has been a real battle for the rights and freedoms of all Bulgarian citizens, regardless of where they are, where they live, in which part of the world, since they are Bulgarian citizens, they have the rights that all other Bulgarian citizens have. For all these 36 years, this battle has been fought in all Bulgarian institutions and especially in the Bulgarian Parliament. There is so much evidence of this that it makes no sense to speak it from this rostrum.
What we have to say to Bulgarian citizens is that the conjunctural political struggles in Bulgarian politics and in Bulgarian institutions should be no reason whatsoever to violate their rights.
That is why I, on behalf of the Parliamentary Group of MRF-NEW BEGINNING, promise the Bulgarian citizens, whose right to vote and be elected will today be violated, that in the next parliament, we will do everything possible to restore these rights, because they deserve them and because they are entitled to them under the Constitution.
