site.btaOnly 26% of Vote-Buying Alerts Mention Parties, Interior Minister Says

In some of the alerts to the Ministry of Interior there were names of people who buy and sell votes, but no parties behind it, said caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov. He added that only 26% of the alerts mentioned names of political parties, while the rest contained general data. "The Ministry of the Interior works by law and expectations and perceptions are not part of the legal world. On the basis of all the evidence collected, we have initiated pre-trial proceedings", Ilkov said.

The Interior Minister also said that there is no way to detain persons on the basis of lists, without specifics and a legal basis and added that allegations [about vote buyers who go unpunished] are being made that mislead the public.

His statement comes a day after President Rumen Radev said that the leadership of the Interior Ministry has shown "measly interest" in the fairness of the October 27 snap parliamentary elections and that this was due not to a lack of professionalism but to succumbing to political pressure. 

Ilkov also said that there are a number of inquiries about individuals and political entities, currently part of these investigations, adding that the investigative secrecy does not allow the Ministry to disclose any details - which the prosecution service can do.

Responding to President Rumen Radev's remarks, the Interior Minister said that no one in the professional leadership of the Interior Ministry has succumbed to any political pressure, "including me, and there has been no pressure on me". Ilkov stressed that his Ministry has always worked within the legal limits. 

"The Ministry of Interior has provided no grounds to draw a conclusion that the elections should be annulled", he said. "We were mobilized and proved with our actions that we handled this task well". Voter turnout has increased and so have the votes won by all parliamentary parties represented in the 51st National Assembly, "meaning that the Interior Ministry and other institutions have created conditions and a calm environment for everyone to vote". The Minister added that any accusations about Interior Ministry inaction are unsubstantiated.

According to him, the police has dealt effectively with vote-buying in the high-risk voting sections, as there was an increased police presence there during election day.

He added that a joint report by the Interior Ministry, the prosecution service and the State Agency for National Security would be prepared and made public.