site.btaUPDATED President Radev Expects Central Election Commission to Strictly Monitor Implementation of Election Code

Attending a ceremony on the 60th anniversary of the declaration of Radnevo as a town, President Rumen Radev said Saturday that he expects the Central Election Commission (CEC) to strictly monitor the implementation of the Election Code ahead of the upcoming snap parliamentary elections on October 27. In his words, the CEC is the primary responsible party for the organization of the elections but should be assisted by the government and all state institutions in this regard.

According to Radev, if a society keeps being insensitive to obvious monstrosities, it is doomed to fall apart.

"The most repulsive and insulting thing for the Bulgarians' intellect, and for our Euro-Atlantic partners, is that this is being done behind the veil of Euro-Atlanticism and by people sanctioned by our strategic partners for significant corruption," the head of State said, without going into further detail on the matter. He added that this is destructive for democracy in Bulgaria and compromises this country’s European future. "I expect all institutions, services, the prosecuting magistracy, the National Assembly and [political] parties to clearly position themselves on this fundamental issue for our future and to take adequate actions," Radev urged.

In 2021, Movement for Rights and Freedoms floor leader Delyan Peevski was designated by the US under the Global Magnitsky Act as an oligarch who "has regularly engaged in corruption, using influence peddling and bribes to protect himself from public scrutiny and exert control over key institutions and sectors in Bulgarian society." Peevski is challenging the designation in a US court. His lawyers argue that there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by their client.

"We see that now the parties and party leaders are focused on presenting beautiful programmes and projects yet again. Yes, those are important, those are necessary, but these same parties and [their] leaders are lying low and do not dare to position themselves on this fundamental social issue," Radev further said.