site.btaPrime Minister Says There Are No "Ghost Voters" on Official Lists

Prime Minister Says There Are No "Ghost Voters" on Official Lists

Sofia, September 15 (BTA) - Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki
told journalists on Monday that no one is planning to rig the
early parliamentary elections on October 5.

"The Citizens' Board for Free and Transparent Elections has
dispelled one of the most persistent myths of the transition
period, the myth that there are 'ghost voters' on voters' lists.
The number of IDs issued tallies with the number of people
named on the lists," Bliznashki said. He added that all
documents from overseas election commissions will be brought to
Bulgaria.

"We want to maintain order and discipline in the run-up to the
elections and avert what has been common practice in recent
years - the buying and selling of votes," the Prime Minister
said. "After a year of tumult, we need to form a strong
political government which will press ahead with long-delayed
reforms, so we can forget about the term 'transition' and move
on to a mode of sustainable development and upward movement."

He recalled that the general framework of Bulgaria's agreement
with the European Commission for the next few years was approved
on the very next day after his caretaker government took office
on August 6, stipulating that 15.8 billion euro will flow into
the country until 2020. "It is about time that we create a
normal environment and make sure that this money is used
properly," Bliznashki said. He quoted experts as predicting that
by 2020 living standards in Bulgaria will rise by 38 per cent,
provided that EU aid is utilized as intended and there are no
further upheavals and no corruption or other malpractices.

The Prime Minister made the remarks during a visit to the
University of National and World Economy in Sofia, where he
opened the new academic year.