Partial elections for mayors and councilors are being held today in many places in the country. In the village of Malorad, you have to go to the polls again because of a violation of the law by adding ballots to the local vote in the fall in front of the whole of Bulgaria.
„Put out this desert, don't put out the dam, So, here we are, our boys, would you like us to help someone - Martin, father Ceno, give them the preferences, let's have our oras from the village there. If someone has a claim, it's up to the commission, what do you say”, was heard on video surveillance recordings that appeared in the fall of 2023.
After the end of the election day in October, in the fifth section, they agree on how to increase the preferences of three of the candidates for councilors, all from Malorad – so that the rural representation in the municipal council of Borovan is more than solid.
„For example, Martin has one and it's empty, to be filled. I've done my job, if you want, if you want, I'll go and go to bed”, can be heard in the recording, writes BTV.
At the elections in Malorada, the chairman of the commission can be seen adding preferences for the former mayor of the village Tseno Tsolovski, while the video surveillance is focused on her.
„Stop, stop, stop… it's something again“, says the voice in the recording.
Two courts ruled – it can't be like that, and they sent not only Malorad, but also the municipality to a correctional facility. And people, tired of elections, wonder if they should vote.
„Yes, we became famous for everything, our village is generally famous for everything, but especially recently with the elections. That is why we are in this situation, because everything is fake here. Who should I vote for - it's all a lie. Complete stupidity and simplicity. The whole of Bulgaria is looking at them for committing a violation. Are there penalties for this – no“, comments Penka Markovska.
Two of the members of the commission are accused, but there are no verdicts yet.
„This was not done intentionally, I can't say anything, it's pure stupidity,” says Sonia Mihailova.
„Every person makes a mistake, there is no such thing as sinless,”, Mitko Mladenov thinks. “A very delicate question, because this is the truth about the elections in all of Bulgaria, and at one point everyone was surprised. Well, can you imagine what it was like before, when there was no video surveillance,” commented Daniel Dimitrov.
The mayor of the village hopes that there will be no blunders this time. The scandalous commission has an almost completely replaced composition. Except for one person.
„In the fifth section there was a girl who was the last time they cashed the elections, they have not punished anyone from that section to this day. And now one of them in the previous election that day was again on the committee in the fifth section. She claims that she didn't see anything and didn't hear anything - nonsense, nonsense, the whole of Bulgaria saw us, commented Ivo Ivanov, mayor of the village of Malorad.
“I have no reason to give up, I didn't do anything illegal - I wasn't there, I was at the toilet. I didn't see anything in the case, after I found out, I was shocked”, commented Ivalina Maldzhanska, a member of the SIK.
Because of the scandal, many are hesitant to go to the polls. But others are convinced.
„That is why we will vote again, so that the right people and the right jobs can be chosen,” says Mitko Mladenov.
Who will be the right people remains to be seen. Known as Bache Ceno, the former mayor of the village did not run again because of the scandal, but Bobby and Martin – remain in the game. And today, Haskovo elects a new Municipal Council. It has come to this after the court annulled the elections from October last year. This happened because of a difference between the votes cast and counted during the recount of the ballots.