site.btaMECh Opposes Revisiting Election Code, Warns of Attempts to Undermine Fair Elections

In this parliament, with this majority, it would be best not to touch the Election Code, said MECh leader Radostin Vasilev, speaking to reporters in the corridors of parliament. Unlike all other groups in Parliament, his party did not make a declaration on the first day of Parliament's work after the winter recess. 

“Even though they do not have a majority for a government, they do have a majority for unfair elections - as they always do,” Vasilev said. He added that the only time such a majority did not exist was in April 2021, when he was chair of the parliamentary legal committee and machine voting was introduced.

According to Vasilev, what is currently taking place is an attempt to sabotage the voting machines used in elections. In order to prevent their use, so-called “counting devices” are being introduced. He made the remarks in reference to a proposal by There Is Such a People (TISP) to use scanning devices in polling stations where Bulgarian voters cast their ballots.

Vasilev also noted that the idea of “counting devices” was originally proposed more than 12 years ago by Mustafa Karadayı. All those who supported the idea at the time are now part of MRF – New Beginning,” he added.

“Fair elections can only be held by a majority that genuinely wants fair elections, regardless of the outcome. From the fading parties - TISP, BSP, and APS [the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms], which are on their way out - as well as from [GERB leader Boyko] Borisov and [MRF - New Beginning leader Delyan] Peevski, we do not expect electoral changes that serve the public interest. Everything [they propose] is an illusion and a deception,” Vasilev said.