The National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) took a political decision concerning its February 14 vote on the members of European Parliament (MEP) elections law, NMSII member Milen Velchev said.

NMSII, one of the parties in the ruling tripartite coalition, voted in favour of an opposition proposal. Only Bulgarian citizens who have lived in an EU country for at least three months prior the elections will have the right to vote.

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), NMSII's coalition party, left plenary hall protesting against the vote.

NMSII member Mariana Kostadinova said that MRF could be discontent but had enough political experience to accept the vote.

Co-leader of rightist Bulgaria People's Union (BPU) Krasimir Karakachanov said that NMSII took the right decision.

MRF deputy chairperson Liutvi Mestan said that the accepted text was a form of discrimination. The regulations affected Bulgarians who had to be outside the country because of social or economic reasons, Mestan said.