site.btaCaretaker Interior Minister Dechev Warns of Public Officials Attempting to Influence Elections

Public officials are attempting to exert improper influence over the electoral process, Bulgaria’s caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said at a briefing in Ruse. He cited specific cases involving a mayor in northwestern Bulgaria and a deputy mayor in a border town.

“In one case in northwestern Bulgaria, a mayor distributed social aid provided by a foundation, placing campaign leaflets of a political party participating in the current elections inside the envelopes. Pre-trial proceedings have been initiated,” said Dechev. “In another case, a deputy mayor of a border town offered an individual to take part in vote-buying, proposing a set amount to be paid to each voter willing to sell their vote, while also suggesting what portion of the money the intermediary could keep.” He added that the Interior Ministry would be uncompromising toward members of parliament and parliamentary candidates despite their immunity, noting that there is a case involving a mayor who is also a candidate for MP.

Dechev paid a visit to Ruse alongside Deputy Interior Minister Kaloyan Miltenov and acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev as part of a nationwide tour that includes meetings with the leadership of all regional directorates of the Interior Ministry.

The Minister reported that signals of election-related violations have increased by several hundred percent compared with those reported in October 2024, leading to an increase in pre-trial proceedings, detentions, and warning protocols.

Earlier on Thursday, in Ruse’s neighbouring regional centre of Silistra, Dechev said the leadership change in the regional Interior Ministry directorate there was aimed at boosting police efficiency, expressing confidence that the new director, Senior Commissioner Pesho Petrov, will handle election-related challenges and strengthen public trust.