site.btaNot Voting Does Not Fix Democracy's Problems - Anti-Corruption Bloc Top-of-the-List Candidate in Vratsa

Democracy in Bulgaria is facing a crisis, driven by a disconnect between citizens and those in power. But choosing not to vote will not fix the problems of democracy, Filip Pavlov, top-of-the-list candidate of the Anti-Corruption Bloc Coalition in Vratsa, said during a meeting with local residents, as quoted by the coalition.

When people turn away from politics, parties are left with fewer members and become reliant on external funding. That pulls them away from the public interest and makes them more vulnerable to the influence of their sponsors, Pavlov said.

He added that repeated failures to reform the judicial system have reinforced the sense that there is no real accountability in politics. “People see the problems clearly, but many feel there is no effective way to respond other than choosing not to vote. That, however, does not solve the problems,” he noted.

As a way to strengthen civic oversight, Pavlov suggested giving citizens the power to trigger a referendum to dissolve parliament, similar to the system in Latvia. This would ensure that the public is not forced to wait until the next election, but instead has a real mechanism to respond to abuses of power, he said.

Among the other measures he proposed to rebuild trust in the political system are limits on campaign financing and financial support for investigative journalism. “Our aim is a democracy where abuses carry consequences and citizens maintain constant oversight over those in power,” he said.

Pavlov also urged citizens to turn out in large numbers and support the Anti-Corruption Bloc.