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ACTS Post opinions with a wide range of perspectives to encourage constructive discussion.
I like Lyudmil Stanev. And I like his sense of humor. Today I read a text about him and for a well deserved literary award. When asked what makes him laugh at the moment, he immediately replied: “The organization of elections in a coronavirus.”
Are you surprised? Of course not! Unfortunately, the electoral process in our country has been under suspicion since Alek’s time. But listening to the forecasts of low electoral participation, of a battle of hard nuclei, of the lack of political platforms and the impossibility of an original political campaign, in our country doubts are growing about the fairness of the April 4 vote.
In addition, it seems to us a clue: the important thing is that you are alive and well, your civil rights will wait. And democracy will be postponed. It’s not so scary! How many more terrifying things are happening in the world! In this sense, we are informed of an almost exact date for the “visit” of the British strain to Bulgaria. Strange, right in the campaign itself.
I am following with interest the proposals of some of the opposition leaders to guarantee a fair vote. There is no way to know if the ideas are good. Because of the disagreement, the lack of will for a common front against the abuses of the vote of the Bulgarian citizens and indeed the timid ones (not to be seen at all) flirting with the ruling party: well, with them the coalition is the most possible and durable. Most of the invitations to talks between the parties were made in such a way as to cause rejection from the guests.
In a coronavirus situation, aside from being so close to elections, there is no time for political innovation. We can use experience. And there is one to the left and to the right, with GISDI and the Bulgarian Association for Fair Elections. Ask Yuri Aslanov and Miro Sevlievski.
It is not possible to mobilize so many volunteers in a pandemic, the parties will say. This is the case if everyone tries to do it individually. But we also remember a more recent example.
It is the year 2013. The power of GERB is unlimited and wiretapping is a measure of normalcy. It was no secret what would happen in the elections. Why didn’t it happen?
Why:
1️. Political leaders have swallowed their ego and their desire for authorship and originality. At the initiative of the largest parliamentary opposition, five parties came together to defend the fairness of the elections: BSP, MRF, DSB, Ataka and DBG. Its members and supporters were the most powerful army of voters, in practically each of the nearly 12,000 sections.
2️. In a public agreement, we make organizational and financial commitments. Yes, defending democracy costs money. And these funds were the best investment. There was a clear principle of financial burden sharing. You will say: now there is a crisis, the subsidy has been reduced, there are no people for the electoral colleges. So is! But precisely because of someone who has illusions about what will happen on election night?
3️. A European company of undisputed reputation was hired to organize a parallel census. Their results were almost the same as the CEC!
4️. Anton Kutev and Milen Marchev made a film “How to win the elections in Bulgaria?”, In which they showed the full range of violations of the local vote in 2011. Christian Vigenin and Ivaylo Kalfin presented it to MEPs and journalists in Strasbourg. And it served as a reason to invite international observers to an EU member state! 105 observers, including Members of the European Parliament, came to Bulgaria through the PSE and visited different parts of the country.
5️. Christian Vigenin and Mihail Mirchev did a great job coordinating and organizing the whole process. The same applies to the deputies and organizers of the other four parties. Experience has it. People too.
6️. The idea of defending the fairness of the elections attracted the attention of the media and the Bulgarians realized that their vote would not be in vain. That will not be stolen or missed in the count. That despite the expected violations, there will be someone who will defend their vote and their right to choose who will govern them.
7️. And last but not least, this unification around a cause such as fair elections showed our compatriots that a united front against the model and the form of government in Bulgaria is possible. The fear cracked. And the Bulgarians came out to vote. The participation was 51.33%.
During the presidential consultations, all the parties (except the rulers) said they wanted guarantees for fair elections. By whom? They are the ones who have to get it. Together!
And in 2013 it was not easy. It will not be now. But the acceptance of my idea then by the other leaders was a clear sign of their determination towards GERB. And they all unconditionally sided with democracy.
Well, that will be today’s test. If there is no united action, there will be unification. But with GERB.
Sergey Stanishev
Bulgaria
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