2013 Bulgarian nuclear power referendum

2013 Bulgarian nuclear power referendum
Should nuclear energy be developed in Bulgaria through construction of a new nuclear power plant?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 851,757 61.49%
No 533,526 38.51%
Valid votes 1,385,283 98.56%
Invalid or blank votes 20,180 1.44%
Total votes 1,405,463 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 6,952,183 20.22%


Results of the 2013 Bulgarian nuclear power referendum
Source: CEC

A referendum on building a new nuclear power plant was held in Bulgaria on 27 January 2013.[1] Whilst it was not explicitly mentioned in the question, it was widely acknowledged that the referendum was about restarting construction at the Belene Nuclear Power Plant.[2][3]

Although the proposal was approved in all 31 electoral divisions, turnout did not pass the required 60% threshold, resulting in the referendum becoming non-binding.[4]

  1. ^ Q&A: Bulgaria's nuclear energy referendum BBC News, 25 January 2013
  2. ^ 21.8% Turnout in Bulgaria's Nuclear Referendum, 61% Say 'Yes' - Pollster Novinite.com, 28 January 2013 ("Subsequently, however, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov changed his mind, and urged GERB voters to vote with "no" because the referendum question anyway referred to Belene, and GERB was against the project.")
  3. ^ Bulgaria's Top Diplomat Votes No on Belene NPP in US Novinite.com, 27 January 2013 ("I voted against the obsolete, costly and unsafe project to build a second Nuclear Power Plant in the Danube town of Belene.")
  4. ^ In historic vote, Bulgarian voters back new nuclear plant EurActiv