site.btaAlliance for Rights and Freedoms Meets with OSCE Delegation

The Chair of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), Hayri Sadakov, together with Deputy Chairs Sevim Ali and Taner Ali, met with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The organization’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has sent a needs assessment mission to Bulgaria in connection with the upcoming early parliamentary elections.

The leadership of the ARF parliamentary group briefed the mission representatives on the current political situation in the country and the reasons that led to the scheduling of early elections. Data were also presented regarding irregularities in the most recent parliamentary elections, as well as a decision of the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria partially annulling the election results.

The parliamentary group called for public resources and state institutions not to be used in favor of specific political forces. It was emphasized that institutions should be clearly distanced from party interests and act as guarantors of the integrity of the electoral process and the protection of the rights of all Bulgarian citizens. The representatives of the ARF said that fair elections are the most effective safeguard of democracy.

During the meeting, the latest amendments to the electoral legislation were also discussed, limiting the number of polling stations outside the European Union to 20. According to ARF, this constitutes a serious infringement on the political rights of Bulgarian citizens living abroad. The parliamentary group stressed that they support the holding of fair and transparent elections in which citizens’ votes are properly counted, regardless of their location.

The leadership of the ARF called for a longer-term presence of OSCE observers during the upcoming elections.

In addition, the issue of restrictions on the use of one’s mother tongue in the election campaign was raised, with concerns expressed about their impact on electoral rights.