There is a difference between this and last year's election campaigns. So far, I have not witnessed any illegal interference in the elections on behalf of the state, I have not heard of centralised instructions for police meddling in the vote. This was stated by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) chairman Mustafa Karadai at a meeting with observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The delegation has arrived in Bulgaria to monitor the election process. On October 2, 2022, Bulgaria will hold early parliamentary elections after the government of "We Continue the Change" led by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament. A new cabinet was not formed within the mandate of the 47th National Assembly and early elections had to be called by the country’s president.
Karadayi told the OSCE envoys about the ruthless interference during the two previous election campaigns, held in 2021, and how police raided the homes of elderly people to harass them mentally and physically by making them do squats. The MRF leader recalled how regional governors together with police officers burst into polling stations to give instructions in violation of the law.
Karadayi also told the observers that former interior minister Boiko Rashkov, a member of Kiril Petkov's cabinet, had transformed the police into a militia to carry out unlawful political orders.
“Every single Friday, during question time in parliament, the former minister would answer our questions about the police harassment, but because the mandate of the previous cabinet was very short, we were not able to obtain answers to all our inquiries. However, we will continue to look for answers,” Karadayi pledged. He said he expects to see no such illegal actions in the current elections.
This is very important because the MRF paid a very high toll in the fight for democracy in Bulgaria. The MRF is called upon to protect democracy and the rule of law, and the rights and freedoms of each Bulgarian citizen, Mustafa Karadayi also said.
If you notice irregularities, you can always contact us to point out the problems, the OSCE observers responded.
We are grateful, we appreciate your role as observers, and we hope we will not have any reason to search for your assistance again. We insist on having fair elections, we claim the right of every Bulgarian citizen to be able to cast their vote. Let us wish for free and democratic elections, and may the rest be in the hands of the Bulgarian citizens, said Iskra Mihailova, member of the European Parliament from MRF/"Renew Europe" and vice-chairman of the "Renew Europe" group, who also attended the meeting. Among the participants were MRF’s top social policy expert Dr. Hassan Ademov, the chairman of MRF’s youth organisation Sezgin Mehmed, as well as members of the regional leadership of the MRF from the region of Haskovo.
