site.btaMinister Dismisses Speculation that Voting Machines Paper Is Substandard

Caretaker Innovation and Growth Minister Rosen Karadimov dismissed as "gross speculation" comments that the Bulgarian National Bank's special paper for the voting machines does not meet the standard of the machines' importer. Speaking in Varna on Thursday, he emphasized that laboratories certify that the paper is fully compliant with the requirements.

Karadimov also noted that it is completely normal for the public procurement procedure launched by the Central Election Commission (CEC) for a maintenance contractor of the machines to have only one bidder - the importer. However, as the company's offer exceeds the price set by the CEC by BGN 1 million, a contract might not be concluded, in which case machine voting must be cancelled, Karadimov said. 

The CEC's offer is the same as for the June 2024 elections, in which members of the European Parliament and of the national parliament were elected. Karadimov pointed out that, therefore, there is no way that the October 27 elections would be more expensive. He hopes that a solution would be found.

The minister arrived in the coastal city for a working meeting with the regional governors of the North-East Region and the directors of the territorial units of the Civil Registration and Administrative Services General Directorate. After the meeting, hosted by Varna Regional Governor Andriyana Andreeva, Karadimov noted that there are no problems in the entire region regarding the preparation of the elections and everything was moving according to schedule.