In the coming weeks the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) will decide on the proposal of its coalition partner National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) for the simultaneous carrying out of presidential elections and vote for members of European Parliament.

Combining the voting procedures was one of the options BSP considered, party member Kristian Vigenin said.

Various arguments supported NMSII's idea but it also had a number of shortcomings which needed to be examined before a final decision was taken, Vigenin said.

In case the elections were not combined, the selection of MEPs was going to take place in the spring of 2007, said Vigenin.

BSP would take a decision enabling the carrying out of MEP elections this year, in case the idea was approved, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.

NMSII suggested this week the combination of the votes, as Bulgarians are also expected to cast a ballot in municipal elections before Bulgaria's expected EU entry in January 2007. Carrying out three different voting procedures was inefficient, NMSII representatives said.

The party also said it would select its own presidential candidate, instead of supporting BSP's nominee.