Minister of Interior: Electoral process ended without serious incidents

The electoral process ended without serious incidents, caretaker Minister of Interior, Ivan Demerdzhiev, told media briefing on April 3.

From his words it has become clear that with the return of the paper ballot, attempts to manipulate the vote are increasing. We have successfully counteracted these practices, Demerdzhiev said.

The number of pre-trial proceedings for electoral violations is twice as high as in the previous elections. However, these practices did not significantly affect the results of the elections," Ivan Demerdzhiev added.

The caretaker Minister added that often the electoral lists include persons known to the police who engage in vote-buying practices.

"There was such a trend in these elections as well. I appeal to the political parties to check precisely the people they include in the lists, because otherwise the impression remains that people are included in order to get immunity and carry out this activity without problems," Demerdzhiev stressed.

Ministry of Interior Secretary General, Petar Todorov, said that 143 pre-trial proceedings have been opened, which is an increase of more than 90% from last elections. He added that the police have dealt with more than 1,300 alerts, 2,100 warning reports were issued and 126 people were arrested.

Petar Todorov explained that out of these 143 pre-trial proceedings, about 30 are fast-track proceedings.

"Mass vote-buying was not allowed, on the contrary there was a decrease," the MoI Secretary General said.

The Ministry of Interior did not allow hybrid attacks and calls from children about planted bombs to affect the polling day and voter turnout. The voter turnout was slightly higher compared to previous elections. As a result of new action protocol, buildings will no longer be closed if a bomb threat is received, Demerdzhiev said.

In his words, it is much harder to prove a crime in vote-buying. "We have proceedings and checks. The main alerts on vote-buying concern the political party GERB, Demerdzhiev added.