site.btaUnited Patriots Threaten to Block Border with Turkey to Stop "Voting Tourists" for March 26 Elections

United Patriots Threaten to Block Border with Turkey to Stop "Voting Tourists" for March 26 Elections

Sofia, March 21 (BTA) - The Bulgarian border with Turkey was near-blocked briefly on Tuesday by supporters of the nationalist United Patriots coalition in a bid to stop what is widely referred to as "voting tourists": Bulgarian migrants to Turkey who traditionally vote in Bulgarian elections in large numbers.

After recent change to the election legislation limit to 35 the number of polling stations that can be opened for overseas voting in Bulgarian elections, many Bulgarian migrants are expected to come to Bulgaria to try to vote here and thus bypass the 35-sections restriction. The Turkish authorities have reportedly vowed to facilitate the process. Bulgarian politicians fear that this will distort the election results and will give advantage to the DOST Alliance which is known to enjoy the support of Ankara and is expected to take many votes in the Bulgarian communities in Turkey, who until recently supported the pro-Establishment Movement for Rigts and Freedoms.

There are three border crossings on the Bulgarian-Turkish border: Kapitan Andreevo, Lessovo and Malko Tarnovo.

During the Tuesday blockade, only three buses were held up briefly at the largest of them, Kapitan Andreevo, by the protestors. Cars were allowed through for 10-15 minutes every hour. Travellers were forewarned and waited patiently to be allowed to cross, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported.

BNR reported that between 30 and 50 buses cross the border on regular bus services. There have been some 5 extra buses on each of the past few days.