Values Vote or DPS Brand Vote – how will the electorate of the “Movement for Rights and Freedoms“ vote?
In the studio of “Face to Face“ political scientist Daniel Smilov and sociologist Tatyana Burudzhieva commented on the topic.
„The DPS case is complicated because there is division. We will see two formations that will share the votes of DPS. The scandal confirmed the reputational problems of both parties. It was known before that there was this affair with 150 million BGN around Dogan. After the scandal, the institutions took action“, explained Smilov.
„This confirmed the other reputational issue – Delyan Peevski has illegitimate and informal influence on theoretically independent elections. After a decision, Peevski received the DPS brand”, he added.
„There is nothing ethnic in the conflict between Delyan Peevski and Ahmed Dogan. There is no risk of that. There is a risk that some DPS voters are disappointed. There may be voters who are disappointed by both factions”, Daniel Smilov also said.
„Over the years, we have all witnessed sticks, buses. Now there is a chance to prove that voters do not just vote for the three letters, but make an informed and rational choice. We need to see another campaign. DPS battles are not just about registrations and what the court will decide. The battles are on the ground. The crushing of voters from all directions is very serious”, explained Tatyana Burudzhieva.
According to her, for the first time the politicians from the DPS are in a situation of competition regarding the electorate.
„This does not lead them to the idea of making a real election campaign. It's supposed to be healing, but I don't see it. I see a serious risk. What is being tossed around as arguments is in the realm of the ethnic. This brings us back to the 90s. This is not normal for a democracy," she stressed.
„Until a party has solved its own problems, it should not come to power. The quarrel between the two factions is about the formation of the next government. It would be good if both factions were not part of the next government. There are no “good ones”, Tatyana Burudzhieva also said.