Bulgaria's Main Party Leaders Vote in Local Elections, Referendum

The leaders of the main parliamentary represented parties have voted in the local elections and the referendum, which are taking place in Bulgaria on Sunday.

Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the deputy chairperson of the largest ruling party GERB, voted in favour of sustaining the visible results in Sofia and Bulgaria.

Tsvetanov also called on all Bulgarians to vote in the referendum as it was important to ease Bulgarians living abroad in their right to vote.

Mihail Mikov, leader of the largest opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voted in favour of a change in Sofia and a capital turned towards the citizens.

Lyutvi Mestan, the leader of the second largest opposition party - Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), described the elections as a feast and triumph of democracy.

Mestan added that elections are meaningful only when people use their right to vote and called for voting consciously.

Meglena Kuneva, Deputy Prime Minister and co-chairperson of the junior coalition partner – the Reformist Bloc (RB), said that she had voted for her team, but more importantly for a transparent government of Sofia with a long-term vision for the development of the capital.

She also voted in favour of a local government capable of managing the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which will be chaired by Bulgaria in the second half of 2018.

According to her, the main measures required for achieving these goals included not only addressing the state of the  infrastructure, but also security, education, culture and transparency.

Kuneva also revealed that she had said a “big YES” to remote electronic voting in the referendum.

Radan Kanev, one of the other co-chairpersons of RB voted for a radical change, mostly in the way the taxpayers' money are managed.

Kanev called on all Bulgarians to vote both in the local elections and the referendum, dismissing claims that the outcome of the elections is predetermined.

He expects a voter turnout of more than 50 %.

Krasimir Karakachanov, one of the co-chairperson of the Patriotic Front (PF), voted for a Sofia free of slums, ghettos and illegal immigration.

Karakachanov voted in favour of more secure and beautiful capital.

Georgi Parvanov, former president and leader of left-wing Alternative for Bulgarian Revival (ABV), voted for strong mayors, who are well-prepared professionals with strong will and capable of being good governors.

Nationalist Ataka leader Volen Siderov, who has been involved in numerous scandals in the past several days, continued with his provocative behaviour on the election day.

Siderov demonstratively tore apart his ballot paper for voting in the referendum and insulted Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, who had initiated the referendum.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, President Rosen Plevneliev and Parliament Speaker Tsetska Tsacheva also voted both in the local elections and referendum.

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