Bulgaria’s Natalia Kiselova Urges Caution Over Proposed Euro Referendum, Citing Constitutional Complexity
Nikolaevo, The Gulf Observer: Bulgarian National Assembly Speaker Natalia Kiselova has called for a careful and thorough review of the proposed national referendum on adopting the euro, emphasizing that the rationale behind the initiative must be closely examined once a formal proposal is submitted.
Speaking to reporters in Nikolaevo, Kiselova clarified that the National Assembly has not yet received an official submission, meaning current discussions are based solely on President Rumen Radev’s public declaration. “I hope the proposal is well-motivated so that the arguments can be clearly substantiated,” she stated, as quoted by BTA.
Kiselova also highlighted two previous Constitutional Court rulings that addressed the scope of the National Assembly’s authority to initiate referendums on specific topics. One of those rulings, issued last year, directly tackled a question related to the euro. She expressed concern that the current version of the referendum question is controversial due to a lack of detailed justification from the president.
President Radev announced on Thursday his intention to propose a national referendum on whether Bulgaria should adopt the euro by 2026. The suggested question reads:
“Do you agree that Bulgaria should adopt the single European currency, the euro, in 2026?”
Radev described the move as a democratic test for the National Assembly, saying it would reveal which political forces support the people’s right to determine their future.
Following Radev’s announcement, his legal advisor Krum Zarkov resigned, citing his opposition to the referendum. According to Zarkov, the question posed is constitutionally inadmissible. So far, only three political groups—Revival, Greatness, and MECH—have expressed support for the referendum.
Speaker Kiselova reiterated that the referendum proposal raises complex constitutional concerns and stressed that the parliamentary committees on budget, finance, and legal affairs will require adequate time to thoroughly assess its legal and practical foundations. She emphasized the need for clarity in the proposal to prevent further controversy.
