site.btaNovember 2021 Elections: Bulgarian Political Leaders Vote in General, Presidential Elections

Sofia, November 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Political Leaders cast their ballots in Sunday's parliamentary and presidential elections and made remarks to the media.

President Rumen Radev: ''The stake at these elections is enormous and will determine whether the already beginning processes of a healing strong statehood will continue or the backstage will be institutionalized again.'' Radev said he voted for freedom, lawfulness and justice and added that those are the values he believes in, the ones he upholds.

GERB-UDF presidential candidate for Prof. Anastas Gerdzhikov, : "I voted to change the political style and political behavior." He added that he voted to have real statesmen who are interested not only in Bulgaria, but are also concerned for every Bulgarian citizen. Anastas Gerdzhikov expressed hope that these real statesmen will lead the country out of the severe political, price, health crisis and will lead it to prosperity.

GERB leader Boyko Borissov, who voted in Bankya, said: "It is very important to change the change, for it has brought us severalfold increase of electricity prices and Bulgaria has ranked first in the number of (COVID) fatalities in the last 14 days."

He explained further that that would mean a stop to taking billions in loans for unknown reasons, unclear explanations about the budget implementation and the unaccounted ongoing theft by several oligarchy figures associated with electricity under the umbrella of the caretaker cabinet, as well as suspended infrastructure projects and not a penny of help in a range of important spheres.

Borissov supports the decision for 100 per cent counting of voter-verified paper records.

Kornelia Ninova, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader said she voted for change, its security and irreversibility. She also said she voted for a stable presidential institution, one that provides security, that unites and gives direction, as well as for "reasonable solutions and reasonable able people who know how to curb the coronoavirus pandemic, the rising prices and compensate incomes''.

Ninova said the BSP party had supported the counting of voter-verified paper records because it is a guarantee that the vote will not be manipulated and the vote will be real.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms Chair Mustafa Karadayi, who voted in Kardzhali, said:''I voted for restoration of statehood and unity of the nation''. He commented on the need of counting of voter-verified paper records, underscoring that to him it is mandatory.

Democratic Bulgaria Co-Chair Hristo Ivanov: ""I am voting with the enormous desire to see the country leap forward and leave the next generation one that bears hope and pride''. Ivanov called on Bulgarians to go and cast their vote, for it is crucial for the country to have a government after these elections. ''Bulgaria has enormous potential in store and work on it should begin very quickly, for the country could be changed within two or three years,'' Ivanov said.

Caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev appealed to all Bulgarians to exercise their right to vote. He said people should vote with the idea that their choice is important, that it is significant and should be made consciously. All Bulgarian citizens should make their choice, for that is a choice for the country's future, he added.

Continue the Change leader Kiril Petkov: ''I voted to continue the change, for Bulgaria can do more''. Petkov expects these elections to result in a coalition cabinet and thins all stakeholders should enter humbly the joint discussion.

According to Petkov, there is no need of 100 per cent counting of voter-verified records. He expressed hope this would not create chaos, adding that just 30 per cent would be sufficient.

Maya Manolova, co-chair of Rise Up BG! Here We Come: ''I voted for a majority of the change and for leaving the model of the "secret cache'' in the past,'' she said. Manolova added she had voted for a fresh and fair Bulgaria. BR/BR