Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry has information about certain politicians involved in vote-buying ahead of the country’s early parliamentary elections on October 5, but lacks sufficient evidence to make statements about it, according to caretaker Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov. Speaking to public broadcaster Bulgarian National Radio on October 1, Bakalov said that this stage the ministry had no concerns about security on election day but said that in terms of the fight against vote-buying “things are little more complex”. He said that the ministry had to work on evidence that could put those involved in vote-buying in court, or at least prevent it happening.
Unfortunately, there were organised groups buying and selling votes, but the Interior Ministry was monitoring the situation and would continue to do so after the Central Election Commission came out with the election results. “We have information that if a certain amount (of money) has been given, the rest will be given after the elections,” Bakalov said.
He said that the ministry already had prevented attempts at vote-buying and pre-trial proceedings had resulted. These had included attempts at buying preferential votes – the system whereby a voter can shift a candidate higher up in that party’s election ballot.
As to politicians involved in vote-buying, he said that “we have certain information in certain respects about certain individuals” but added that there was not enough evidence to follow through.
Full Article: Bulgarian elections 2014: Interior Ministry has ‘information’ on politicians involved in vote-buying | The Sofia Globe.