Buying votes is a deep-rooted social problem, which does not have an easy solution, in the period around elections, the topic of vote buying always comes to the fore. On the air of BNT, political scientist Stoicho Stoichev, Stoil Tsitselkov from the public council of the CEC and digital technology expert Zhoro Penchev discussed this problem and proposed different solutions, quoted by news.bg.
Stoychev believes that despite the efforts of the government and institutions to combat this phenomenon, it will continue to exist as long as there is demand. The problem cannot be solved only through the actions of the police and the prosecutor's office, but requires more comprehensive reforms.
A major factor in electoral trading is poverty and social insecurity, which lead people to accept money for their vote. According to Stoychev, if people had enough funds to cover their basic needs, they would not be inclined to sell their vote. The solution to the problem goes through raising incomes and improving the quality of life, not just through punitive measures. It is important to realize that vote trading is not a problem that occurs only during elections. These structures function throughout the year, influencing various aspects of society.
Stoil Tsitselkov, representative of the public council of the CEC, emphasizes that low political culture and poverty are key factors that support vote buying. According to him, there is no easy way to limit this phenomenon because there are not enough mechanisms to control this process effectively. Lack of transparency and lack of civic engagement also play a role. According to Tsitselkov, the institutions should guarantee more openness and accessibility of information related to the electoral process in order to increase the confidence of citizens.
Digital technology expert Zhoro Penchev notes that elections are the tool with which citizens can influence the development of society. However, a large proportion of young people remain indifferent to the electoral process, leading to lower voter turnout. He appealed to create greater engagement among the youth and improve their interest in politics. The CEC also plays a key role in minimizing errors and improving the electoral process. This includes analyzing past elections and introducing new rules to make the system more efficient.
The vote-buying problem is multi-layered and requires complex solutions. One of the main causes of electoral trading is poverty, which leads to the perception of elections not as a civic duty, but as an opportunity for short-term financial gain. The decision should be aimed not only at punitive measures, but also at improving living conditions and increasing the political culture of society. Only in this way can we achieve fairer and more democratic elections.