Svilenski and Chenchev to the Minister of the Interior: Are there political parties that buy votes

„Elections in Bulgaria are conducted in a disgusting way and this is no secret – in terms of vote buying, addictions, “clubs” and use of state apparatus to suppress people, tens of thousands of cases of violation of all international standards”.
This was stated by the independent MP Kaloyan Metodiev during the hearing of the Minister of the Interior Atanas Ilkov in the parliament today, emphasizing:
„In Bulgaria, fortunately, at all elections there are international observers and missions, which then write reports. Already at the big mission of the OSCE in 2022, a report was issued by dozens of observers about brutal interference in the election process, violations, abuses.
The independent member of parliament announced that just 2 weeks ago, an OSCE report was released on the last elections of June 9 and pointed out:
„The conclusions are again the same: Two main ones. First – problems related to media ownership in Bulgaria, which is used in an undemocratic way during election campaigns. And secondly – recommendation that the vote buyers be caught and sent to court, to be held accountable”.
“In this regard, I want to emphasize strongly: These reports, according to some, are insignificant and pass like that – the dogs are barking, the caravan is moving. No. This is piling up. And at a certain moment, sooner or later, there will be consequences, and reactions, and retribution for all those who participate in such schemes”, Metodiev said from the parliamentary rostrum.
Before that, Georgi Svilenski addressed the Minister of the Interior: “You are not saying the most important thing– are there representatives of political parties among the established vote buyers and sellers? And which political parties buy votes? Here, say this to the Bulgarian citizens and this will solve the question of who buys votes, who allows themselves to win elections, who allows themselves to bring people's representatives into this hall with a bought vote“.
“Are there representatives of political parties? Yes or no? If yes – which ones? If it is no – so we don't have a problem. You leave this hall and start chasing traffic violators. But I doubt that we don't have a problem, Svilenski also said.
„The practice that exists in the Ministry of the Interior continues through your answers. When both I and other people's representatives, then candidates during a campaign, gave our signals to the regional directors of the Ministry of the Interior, we received very streamlined answers. In the Sofia region, people have approached me many times, I have given a report, I was told that there are established persons who buy votes, but from 5-6-7 years ago”.
This was stated by the People's Representative from the "BSP for Bulgaria" Ivan Chenchev and turned to Minister Ilkov:
„I am personally a victim of the lack of reaction to the notification of the Ministry of the Interior about vote buying – I go to a police station and say: gentlemen, come out with me, 100 meters from the police station they are buying votes. The answer I get is “we have no gas in the patrol car”. But these guys are not to blame. The problem lies above, in the leadership of the Ministry of the Interior,”, stated Chenchev and turned to Minister Ilkov:
„Can you tell me now how the Ministry of the Interior will proceed with the new vote dealers? Can you name what you're working on – on new ones, not the ones from 5-6 years ago? There are apparently new rooks on the field now. As Svilensky said – give the names of those who work with the new players”, urged the Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Chenchev.