During an interview on Bulgarian National Television, Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy Chair and spokesperson Rositsa Mateva stated that no reports of vote rigging were received concerning the April 19 parliamentary election. Addressing hypothetical claims of manipulation regarding Siyanie, which were raised by civil movement leader Nikolay Popov, Mateva expressed hope that no appeals would be filed, citing positive assessments from international observers and the caretaker government. Regarding an incident in Montana involving a section election commission (SEC) member casting ten ballots, the Deputy Chair noted the presence of eight other SEC members and questioned the inaction of the other officials.
She asserted that immediate action from the other members and observers was necessary, adding that once ballots are secured in the boxes, retrieval is impossible. Mateva emphasized that this incident was isolated, representing one case out of nearly 13,000 voting sections nationwide. Concerning personnel changes, she confirmed that replacements for SEC members were primarily due to personal refusal, noting that some changes occurred after the initial election training.
Mateva stated that the CEC consistently manages cooperation with caretaker cabinets, commenting that while some collaborations were stronger than others. Overall, she maintained that the election process was conducted fairly and normally, noting positive communication with the Public Council. The CEC spokesperson concluded by mentioning that thirteen elected MPs are expected to select one representative on Friday.
Mateva reflected on the CEC’s tenure, which ends on May 12, after overseeing numerous national and by-election cycles.
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