The referendum, held on 27 January, asked voters whether or not nuclear energy should be developed in Bulgaria through the construction of a new nuclear power plant.
According to the Bulgarian Central Election Commission, 60.6% voted in favour of nuclear energy with 37.9% opposed. There were 1.4 million voters.
The referendum was called by the Bulgarian Socialist Party in an effort to force the ruling centre-right government to review its decision not to build two 1000-megawatt VVER units at the existing Belene nuclear site.
According to Bulgarian law, if the referendum turnout is over 20%, and more than half of the votes are positive, the question is tabled for debate in parliament. The turnout needs to be at least 60% for the result to be binding.
