Bulgaria Election 2013 Parallel Count Poses Risks - Expert

Mihail Konstantinov is a mathematician and former head of state-owned IT company Information Services. Photo by BGNES

As all major Bulgarian political parties, except former ruling GERB, teamed up to organize a parallel ballot count in the upcoming May 12 general elections, an expert has warned it may mumble-jumble figures.

"The methodology for calculating election results sometimes does not work exactly as it should and this can lead to confusion," Mihail Konstantinov, a mathematician and former head of state-owned IT company Information Services, told the morning broadcast of bTV private channel.

According to him, the problem is not the software, but an algorithm that sometimes leads to wrong results.

“The protocols from the election booths often contain errors. For example they say that 2 +2 = 5, but the mistake is corrected later on by the regional commission,” he explained.

The parallel counting move was motivated by fears voiced by other parties that formerly ruling GERB might exert its lasting influence over the executive to rig the elections.

The unprecedented decision unites traditional arch-rivals, and includes leftist and rightist, nationalist and liberal parties.

The self-styled election fairness coalition includes the Bulgarian Socialist Party, liberals Movement for Rights and Freedoms, nationalists Ataka, rightists Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, as well as the new liberal Bulgaria for Citizens party.

They have hired a yet unnamed company from Austria to perform the logistics of the parallel counting.

Just before the Easter holidays Bulgaria's former ruling party GERB requested to take part in the initiative, even though it has not been invited.

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