PRESIDENT Petar Stoyanov met the leaders of five political parties in the space of three days this week - including the two main parties, the ruling Union Democratic Forces and the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

He also met leaders of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), the Bulgarian Agrarian Popular Union and the Democratic Party.

He was discussing the coming elections and necessary changes to election law.

Ekaterina Mihailova, chief secretary of the UDF, said: "The questions prioritised at the meeting by the president concerned the work of the majority party for the remaining weeks of the 38th Parliament."

The UDF assured the president that MPs would complete all their duties.

Georgi Purvanov, leader of the BSP said: "The normal procedures of the future elections were a major topic of discussion at the meeting with the president.

The BSP leader explained about common disagreements concerning the finalising of Parliament's work and an opposition to introduce changes within judiciary law. Military reform and the rights of the government when Parliament is not in session were also discussed.

Election law and the Central Election Commission and its functions were the focus of discussions between the president and the leaders of the MRF on Tuesday. The commission is currently expected to be overseeing both the parliamentary and local elections.

Remzi Osman, member of MRF said: "We disagree with this completely and we expressed our consideration with the president because some members are extremely politicised and objectively inclined for some political powers. We also consider it an abuse of citizens rights to be unable to vote if temporarily abroad at the date of the elections."