TERMINATION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE AS A RESULT OF THE INVALIDATION OF CONTROVERTED ELECTIONS

Rumen Vodenicharov, PhD Student

Department of Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Abstract

Elections are the cornerstone of modern representative systems of government. As a reflection of the will of the people, elections must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The contrary would put the elected representatives’ legitimacy into question. That is why legally established mechanisms for challenging election irregularities which might alter the election results are required. In case such irregularities occur it is without doubt that the mandate of parliament or individual deputies should be terminated. The question is what makes an irregularity serious enough to lead to the invalidation of elections. And how should elections be contested? The present article aims to answer these questions.

Keywords

parliamentary mandate, legislature, deputies, election irregularities, annulment of elections, termination of powers

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