BELENE NPP PROJECT RETURNS TO BULGARIA'S PARLIAMENT AFTER REFERENDUM

Bulgaria's Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has announced the final results from the January 27 nationwide referendum on the development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria. According to a decision of the CEC date January 29, a total of 1 405 463 Bulgarian nationals cast ballots at the referendum, including at diplomatic and consular offices of Bulgaria, compared to a total of 4 345 450 people who took part in the last parliamentary elections on July 5, 2009, Sofia News Agency wrote.

A total of 6 950 900 Bulgarians were entitled to vote at the referendum. A total of 1 405 463 Bulgarian nationals participated in the nationwide referendum on nuclear energy, or 20.22% of all citizens entitled to vote, of whom 60.60% voted "yes" and 37.96% voted "no" to the question "Should Bulgaria develop nuclear energy through the construction of a new power plant?"

The invalid ballots were 1.436%. The referendum results mean that the issue of the construction of the Belene NPP or a new unit of the existing Kozloduy NPP will be returned to Parliament.

 
The decision of the CEC can be appealed within 7 days from its announcement to the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS).