The CEC did not sanction Peevski for using the Bulgarian flag in election posters – 2024-06-01 05:10:15

The Central Election Commission (CEC) refused to sanction the DPS co-chairman for using the national tricolor in pre-election billboards and posters. In the meantime, it became clear that the SAC leaves without consideration the appeal of PP-DB against the CEC’s decision to fine former Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov because of the billboards with the inscription – “What do you want your prime minister to be?”

Peevski and the flag

Regardless of the fact that the Bulgarian flag is part of the background of the campaign materials, for the CEC it turned out to be indistinguishable. In detail, the Electoral Code provides for an express ban on the use in campaign materials of the coat of arms or flag of the Republic of Bulgaria or a foreign country, as well as religious signs or images.

Specific posters were shown by “Dnevnik” in Kardzhali and Kubrat municipality.

“The Central Electoral Commission, after having familiarized itself with the arguments given in the signal and the photographic material attached to it, finds that it cannot be concluded that the color background used in the campaign material has the marks of the national flag of the Republic of Bulgaria, so as it does not contain the details of the national flag of the Republic of Bulgaria in the sense of Article 15 of the Law on the State Seal and the National Flag of the Republic of Bulgaria and Annex No. 2, which is an integral part of the same law”are motivated by the commission.

The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court through the Central Election Commission within three days of its announcement.

The Supreme Court did not consider the appeal of PP-DB

Meanwhile, on Friday, the Supreme Court left without consideration the appeal of former Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov against the CEC’s decision to fine Denkov because of the billboards with the inscription – “What do you want your prime minister to be?”. After this decision, Denkov will in practice be fined up to BGN 5,000, and the billboards will be removed.

The removal order was reached following a complaint by GERB, in which it was claimed that the billboards in question used Borisov’s face unlawfully, without “his knowledge and consent, damaging the prestige and in violation of good morals – an act representing a violation of the rules of the election campaign”.