site.btaReformist Bloc-People's Voice Coalition Asks President, Central Election Commission to Limit Voting in Turkey to Bulgarian Embassy, Consulates

Reformist Bloc-People's Voice Coalition Asks President, Central Election Commission to Limit Voting in Turkey to Bulgarian Embassy, Consulates

Sofia, March 20 (BTA) - In an open letter to the Central Election Commission and to President Rumen Radev, the Reformist Bloc-People's Voice coalition has asked for a closure of the voting sections in Turkey outside the Bulgarian Embassy and consulates and for stopping "voter tourism", the coalition said on Monday.

The responsibility for the governance of this country, including for the protection of Bulgarian citizens' interests and national security, at present rests entirely with the head of State, which is why the Reformist Bloc-People's Voice call on him not to abdicate his constitutional duties but to do everything possible for guaranteeing the integrity of the election process and the non-interference of foreign States in it, the press release states.

"On the one hand, the State Agency for National Security expels persons suspected of acting against this country's territorial integrity, and the President says that the Turkish State is interfering [in the Bulgarian election campaign]. On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister [Stefan] Yanev says that he will ease the formalities for [border] crossing of buses carrying voter tourists," MP candidate Antoni Trenchev said when the open letter was submitted.

In the next legislature, the Reformist Bloc-People's Voice will insist on a consensus and a position of Parliament on any type of interference by foreign States, be it Turkey or Russia. Trenchev added that he does not see the patriotic rhetoric of Movement for Rights and Freedoms Honorary Chairman Ahmed Dogan as sincere.

The Reformist Bloc also urge the President to seek a common reaction of solidarity from the EU in connection with Turkey's attempts to meddle in Bulgaria's internal policy and to canvas for its referendum in violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, as well as to order the Government he has appointed and the regional governors to take all measures for the prevention of irregularities in the balloting and counting process in the areas with mixed population.