site.btaCaretaker PM Yanev: July 11 Parliamentary Elections Were Fair, Free and Transparent

July 14 (BTA) - Caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev
thanked all
institutions involved in organizing the July 11 snap
parliamentary elections during the start of his Cabinet's weekly
 regular meeting. He noted that the elections were fair, free
and transparent. "We managed to rebut the main fears and
criticism related to machine voting,"  Yanev said.

The law enforcement bodies acted decisively and efficiently to
counter vote buying and attempts at manipulating and
compromising the election process, the Prime Minister said,
adding that the election results are authentic and reflect
voters' will, as it should be in a democracy.

Meanwhile, Yanev said he couldn't help but note a few concerning
 phenomena related to the election process: the exceptionally
low voter turnout, which he doubts was the result of the
elections being held in the midst of summer. Political apathy is
 a dangerous phenomenon and the political parties must put in
more effort in engaging Bulgarians to participate in the
democratic process, he added.

"I am not claiming that I have seen the full picture, but it
seems to me that part of the political forces completely refused
 to talk with and to the people. It is unacceptable in a
democracy for a political force to refuse to communicate with
its supporters. This is not just a sign of low political
culture, but a complete lack of understanding of politics as a
process, behaviour and action,'' Yanev said, adding that
refusing and denying political interaction, and ignoring basic
principles in that regard are unacceptable.

Politics are for true politicians with a vision, for people with
 qualities who offer sustainable and long-term solutions to
society's problems. Politics are not for bureaucrats or
technocrats, who are oriented towards situational and temporary
fixes, the Prime Minister said.

"We must be clear that, as politicians and active participants
in the political process, we cannot afford to once again
disappoint the Bulgarian citizens. This will not only further
aggravate their apathy and distancing from the political
process, but could lead to an even more tangible refusal to
participate in the political process and commit themselves to
shaping the political agenda. This is not in the interest of
Bulgarian democracy and we must not allow it to happen," Yanev
said.

"The Bulgarian citizens are seeking the new political leader,
the new political elite, new type of leadership, they're seeking
 the visionaries, who will outline a clearer and more successful
 horizon for the development of our society and State. I am
afraid that what has been happening in recent days and weeks
could leave many Bulgarians disappointed. That is why I believe
that change is needed, which will meet the Bulgarian public's
expectations for a meaningful and nationally responsible policy,
 for adequate political behaviour and communication, for
effective political action and for resolving important matters
for our society. The change that will consolidate national
efforts, unite all patriotic Bulgarians, so that we can bring
our country out of the difficult times and serious challenges it
 faces - towards a new horizon, on the path to a prospering
economy, a stable and predictable political environment, a
sustainable social system. Our country needs a new perspective,
a new model of political communication and interaction,
achieving broad consensus on a political programme that outlines
 clear horizons for modernization, leads to a quick and
sustainable economic growth, higher competitiveness of the
economy, creates a favourable environment for investments,
supports the private initiative, stimulates the sectors that
create products with high added value. Our country needs to
fully take advantage of the opportunities and promptly develop a
 capacity to deal with the challenges in the context of its euro
 zone membership perspective. [It needs] a programme that will
make it a priority to address the demographic crisis, a
programme that creates [favourable] conditions for our fellow
Bulgarians to return from abroad, and to restore the balance in
the development of this country' different regions," Prime
Minister Yanev said.

"Our struggle to regain the Bulgarian citizens' trust and
restore statehood goes hand in hand with countering corruption -
 a process which I am aware will be exceptionally long and
difficult," Yanev said, adding that the time has come for a true
 judicial reform and not an imitation of such, mostly made for
foreign consumption. RY/MY




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