Local elections

    Does anybody on here know if as an in comer to Bulgaria if I'm entitled to vote in the up coming local elections and if so what do the political parties stand for?
   

    -@kath9483

Only EU citizens are able to vote in Local elections and the European elections. Only Bulgarian citizens can vote in national elections.

Because of Brexit, UK citizens are now 3CN's so are unable to vote.

Thank you, does that apply even if I have residence permit?

It's only citizens, Kath, defined as a Bulgarian passport holder. Permanent residency gives you almost all the rights of a Bulgarian citizen, but not the right to vote.

Thank you to the both of you for your replies.

    It's only citizens, Kath, defined as a Bulgarian passport holder. Permanent residency gives you almost all the rights of a Bulgarian citizen, but not the right to vote.
   

    -@janemulberry

Please look at my reply, its NOT just citizens.

    Thank you, does that apply even if I have residence permit?
   

    -@kath9483

Yes.

@SimCityAT I meant from Kath's point of view, as she doesn't have an EU passport but a UK one. Her residency will not permit her to vote.

But you are correct, as always. If she had a non-Bulgarian but other EU passport, she could vote in some elections.

And once again thank you to you both for bothering to reply and educate this old biddie on her rights and responsibilities now she's residing in Bulgaria.

Why any country will let foreigners to vote??

I know that when the UK was still in Europe people from other European countries were allowed to vote in local elections but not in the national ones.

That's an EU thing - some rights are extended to all EU citizens.

And in some countries -- unfortunately not Bulgaria -- permanent residents are also allowed to vote. There's a big difference between a foreigner temporarily in the country and a foreigner who is making their home in the country who intends to spend the rest of their life there.

I'm in the latter group I intend to live here from now on. I cannot afford as a pensioner to live in the UK.  The monthly rent in the UK on a garage costs more than the council tax on my village home for the year.

    That's an EU thing - some rights are extended to all EU citizens.
And in some countries -- unfortunately not Bulgaria -- permanent residents are also allowed to vote. There's a big difference between a foreigner temporarily in the country and a foreigner who is making their home in the country who intends to spend the rest of their life there.
   

    -@janemulberry

Suicide. So move 100000 EU foreigners and they vote in  that country. What happen now to the country?

Well, it's EU law. Here's the official information: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-a … -rights_en

It's unfortunate that permanent residents can't vote, but If we don't like it, we don't have to move to an EU country.

For European Parliament not the country elections.

Lithuania have 150000 Russian permanent residents. Not unfortunate Lithuania law stops all the foreigners voting.

From the page I linked to:

EU citizens who live in another EU country also have the right to vote and stand as candidate in local or municipal elections in the country they live in, again under the same conditions as the nationals of that country.

I don't know about the situation in Lithuania, but I do feel if someone is permanently resident in a country, pays tax there, is affected by the decisions the government makee, they probably should be allowed to vote.

But I think I've taken us off topic, as we need to focus discussion on what's relevant to expats in Bulgaria.

The Local election? Yes ok maybe. To me it is crazy thinking all Russian and Turkish in Bulgaria in the vote. Kath to vote is wrong if her tongue is not Bulgarian.

Nevermind I'll live.

@kath9483

Nice joke Kath

,?