The election of municipal councilors in Haskovo was annulled by a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court nearly six months after the local vote.
The results of the elections that took place on October 29, 2023, were declared invalid after a recount of the results of all 151 sections in the municipality.
In Haskovo, GERB received the most mandates in the municipal council – 14. DPS has 9 municipal councilors, “Bulgarian Voice” there are four, and PP-DB, “We are coming” and “Bulgaria of the Regions“ – three each. “Revival“ and BSP have two each, and “There is such a people” – one.
The election results were appealed by PP "We are coming", KP "BSP for Bulgaria", PP "VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement", PP "Revival", KP "Continuing the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" and KP “Bulgaria of the regions“.
The recount showed a result that was different from what was reported in the SIC protocols.
Thus, a total of 28,596 actual votes were established instead of 28,657 according to the protocols of the SEC, 6,789 invalid ballots instead of 6,705 according to the protocols of the SEC and 711 actual votes with a marked vote "I do not support anyone". instead of 747 according to the SIC protocols.
„The difference between the number of voters who voted according to the signatures on the voter lists is impressive – 36,113, and the number of ballots found in the ballot boxes – 36,039. These numbers must be equal, which means that some persons signed to vote, but the ballot for their vote is missing, the court wrote in its reasons.
In addition, the sum of the actual votes (28,362), invalid ballots (6,665) and actual votes with a "I support no one" (787) must equal the number of ballots found in the ballot boxes (36,039). And in this case there is a difference – respectively, the total is 35,814, with 36,039 found ballots.
Again, it is striking that the sum of all actual votes distributed by candidate lists is 28,651, with a stated total of 28,362 actual votes.
There will be a new composition of the municipal council after partial local elections, which will be appointed by presidential decree.
Until an election is held, the municipal council from the previous term 2019 will be in effect again – 2023