President Iotova Addresses the Nation Ahead of April 19 Elections: “My Vote is Who I Am and Cannot Be Transferred to Anyone Else"

“My vote is who I am and cannot be given or transferred to anyone else,” President Iliana Iotova said on April 17 in an address to the Bulgarian people ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

She described the elections as important and decisive.

“These are elections that will determine Bulgaria’s path from this point onwards—elections we invest with expectations and hopes.”

She also recalled the messages of the protesters.

“They demanded their country back. They called for a state cleansed of corruption. They called for a state that delivers justice. A state that charts a future. A state that shows respect. The protests demonstrated that there is no authority stronger than its citizens.”

According to the President, concern about the future is understandable in the context of rising prices in the country, fears and the consequences of the conflict in the Middle East, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. She emphasised that voting is an act of belonging to the nation, signifying both freedom and responsibility, Iliana Iotova said.

“There is again the threat of vote-buying telling us: yes, you vote, but we will form backroom deals. And a stable government—hardly. But there is another path, and that is the path of my vote, of your vote. By taking part in elections, we recognise that every single vote may prove decisive in closing the toxic wound of vote-buying. I value my vote, and I am confident that you value yours as well,” she said.

She called for people to also think about the day after the elections.

“We need to address the urgent problems facing our country. That is why we urgently need a functioning National Assembly, and a government with capacity—one with clear and decisive support. After election day, we will need strong people and strong leaders.”

Iotova also stressed that Bulgaria will need a strong foreign policy—European and predictable for its partners, but also in the interest of Bulgarian citizens.