Rositsa Mateva, Deputy Chair and spokesperson for the Central Election Commission (CEC), stated on Bulgarian National Television that there were no reports of vote rigging during the April 19 parliamentary election. Addressing hypothetical claims of result manipulation, particularly those made by Nikolay Popov, Mateva noted that international observers and the caretaker government had provided positive assessments. Regarding a specific incident in Montana, where a section election commission (SEC) member cast ten ballots for others, Mateva questioned the lack of immediate action by the other SEC members present.
She emphasized that once ballots are secured, removing them is impossible, and suggested that prompt intervention from commission members and observers was expected. She clarified that this incident was isolated, occurring within a vast network of nearly 13,000 voting sections. On procedural matters, Mateva explained that replacements for SEC members were primarily due to personal refusal, although some changes occurred after members had been trained.
Concerning the caretaker government, she stated that the CEC maintained a working relationship with all successive cabinets, noting varying levels of cooperation. Overall, the Deputy Chair expressed confidence in the electoral process, asserting that the elections were conducted fairly and without tension, citing positive communication with the Public Council. Mateva confirmed that thirteen Members of Parliament elected in two constituencies are scheduled to select one representative on Friday.
She concluded by reflecting on the CEC’s tenure, noting the successful management of numerous elections over the past five years.
Topics: #election #commission #deputy
