Attorney Rumyana Chenalova: The battle for the Bulgarian lev is not over – more than 301,000 signatures are a fact

In the program “Delnitsi”, Nikolay Kolev talks with attorney Rumyana Chenalova about:

• the successful validation of over 301,000 signatures for the referendum to preserve the Bulgarian lev,
• the efforts of volunteers under conditions of media blackout and
• the upcoming changes in electoral legislation concerning referendums and voter lists.

We present the full interview.

The Success of the Petition for the Lev

Host: “In the studio with me is attorney Rumyana Chenalova. Good evening and welcome. You represent the civic association ‘Doyran 2025’. Is the battle for the lev over?”

Rumyana Chenalova: “No, it is not over. There are still steps and stages that must be completed according to the law. Today there was a press conference at which we reported on one stage of the process – the completed verification in the National Assembly. During this verification, the data in the paper forms, where people wrote their names and addresses, were compared with the data we entered into Excel spreadsheets. All of this has been compiled into a single electronic file and is now in the Civil Registration and Administrative Services Directorate (GRAO), where automated verification of the correctness of the entries will begin.

In the National Assembly, 10 or 11 teams of two people each worked. Each team consisted of a representative of the parliamentary commission and a representative of our team. We worked from morning until the end of the working day, and the work was extremely demanding. Between the 9th and the 13th, we verified 300,000 signatures. I carry the official report, signed by both sides, which certifies the fact of the completed verification.

I can now inform the Bulgarian citizens that we have collected 301,130 valid signatures within the meaning of this verification. There are only 145 entries that were excluded because the citizens had responsibly filled in all their data but had forgotten to sign. In the absence of a signature, there is no way to validate the will of these people.”

Civic Energy and Media Blackout

Rumyana Chenalova: “This number is striking not because higher results have never been achieved before, but because we worked under very unusual circumstances. The battle for the lev meets resistance from the state authorities, the European institutions, and the local administration. We encountered reluctance from many mayors to assist us and to provide places for collecting signatures. The media remained silent. Only a few, such as ‘Eurocom’ and other private channels, broadcast videos through which we spread the idea.

In this environment, and with absolutely no funding, we succeeded solely through volunteers. The big news is that these signatures were collected and entered by volunteers. Everyone gave their personal labor and time, worked with their heart. No one asked for or received even a single stotinka. This cause managed to unite people with different political views who otherwise, as neighbors, are in conflict.”

Heroism in Small Towns

Rumyana Chenalova: “We compiled statistics based on the percentage of the population that participated in the petition. In small towns, people fear for their jobs; they are afraid of being dismissed. Signing by these people is an act of heroism and a form of resistance against local oligarchic feudalism. When I saw the numbers, in addition to joy, I felt faith that the Bulgarian is awakening and gaining self-confidence.

Yambol is in first place with 8% of its population, which is an exceptional success. It is followed by Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Dobrich, Stara Zagora, Pleven, and Montana. Unfortunately, the big cities are less active. In Sofia, only 3.21% of the population participated. Plovdiv is better with 5.11%, and Varna with 5.31%.

The second set of statistics compares the population of each regional city with the population of Bulgaria. By this criterion, Stara Zagora is in first place, followed by Veliko Tarnovo, Yambol, and Dobrich. Sofia is again among the last. It turns out that in Northern Bulgaria and in the small Balkan towns, the Revival spirit has been preserved.”

Legislative Changes and Voter Lists

Rumyana Chenalova: “Our goal is to change the law so that referendums become a daily practice and can be initiated with 50,000 signatures. A few days ago, a proposal by ITN to amend the Law on Direct Participation passed its first reading. The good news is that the requirement to enter permanent addresses on the forms is being removed, which is very burdensome and often leads to errors.

However, the proposal that the threshold for a referendum be one-fortieth of citizens with voting rights is unworkable. No one can determine the exact number of voters, as the lists are full of ‘dead souls’. The data on Bulgarians abroad remain inaccurate, and the ‘Abroad’ electoral district has still not been created.

News has just arrived that the legal committee has adopted a proposal for voter lists to be compiled on the basis of data from the latest census, rather than from the population register. This is good, but it must be considered whether the lists have been properly cleaned and what will be done about Bulgarians who have not registered in their respective municipalities.”

Control over the Electoral Process

Rumyana Chenalova: “The legal committee has adopted at first reading the proposal that polling stations abroad be no more than 20 in a country outside the EU, a proposal by ‘Vazrazhdane’. This is excellent because it restores the situation from before 2021 and allows for control, especially in Turkey, where there were abuses and a lack of surveillance cameras.

The issue of machine voting remains. Why should paper slips be counted and placed in the ballot boxes if the data in the machines are considered absolutely accurate? In previous elections, there were missing receipts, which means either negligence by the commissions or manipulation and criminal interference in the operation of the machines.”

The Anti-Corruption Commission and the Case in Luxembourg

Host: “How will the closure of the anti-corruption commission affect things?”

Rumyana Chenalova: “The closure is being carried out without clear justification. The incompetence of MPs and the lack of accountability lead to poor-quality laws and political interference. No one explained why the commission must be closed, what the new criteria are, and why they are better.

I would also like to clarify something important about the news from Brussels – the issue of the euro has not been finally resolved. What I published was the response of the Council of the European Union to the filed lawsuit. The Council is the defendant and it is normal for it to contest our complaint, but it is a party to the case, not the deciding body. By February 23 we will submit our reply, and the Court will decide. The battle is not over, and we continue with hope and faith.”