I must be added that the Venice Commission does not consider the one-year restriction as preventing a state from bringing its electoral law in accordance with the standards of Europe’s electoral heritage or the implementation of recommendations by international organisations. Indeed, some of the late amendments to the Electoral Code address concerns previously raised by the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR. If new provisions affecting fundamental elements of electoral law are adopted within one year before an election, such amendments should only take effect after the forthcoming election. This recommendation was also emphasised by the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR in the 2014 Joint Opinion on the draft Electoral Code of Bulgaria. Previous election observation reports have also commented on late amendments to the Electoral Code. The PACE election observation report on the 2013 parliamentary elections also raised concerns over amendments to the Electoral Code only two months before the election. Similarly, the PACE Election observation report on
the 2016 presidential election recalled the recommendation of the Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters not to amend fundamental elements of an electoral law within one year before an election.9 The concerns were also raised in the context of the 2016 presidential election that significant changes were adopted close to the election without an inclusive public consultation.