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Sun, Nov 08 2009
Record number of polling stations in Turkey for Bulgaria's elections
FLASHBACK TO 2005: Bulgarian election posters in Istanbul, depicting Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan.
Photo: ЦВЕТЕЛИНА НИКОЛАЕВА
A record high number of polling sections will be operating in Turkey for Bulgaria's July 5 2009 parliamentary elections, Deputy Foreign Minister Milen Keremedchiev told Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily on June 17 2009.
Of the 252 polling sections that will be opened abroad, 123 will be in Turkey where thousands of Muslim Bulgarians live after many of them were forced by the communist regime to leave Bulgaria in the 1980s.
Since the fall of communism, Bulgarians living in Turkey have been taking an active part in Bulgaria’s elections, sparking resentment from other political groups that they served as a political tool of current ruling coalition partner the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, that traditionally represents Muslim Bulgarians.
At the 2005 national parliamentary elections, more than 40 000 people voted in the 76 polling sections in Turkey. Turnout was so high that many polling stations ran out of ballots and people had to queue for several hours. In 2005 there were a total of 434 polling stations abroad.
For the 2009 elections, the Central Elections Commission has approved the opening of polling stations in 62 countries. Spain will have 15, the UK, Germany and France will have six each while the US and Russian will have five polling stations.
In China, Canada and Afghanistan, Bulgarians will have a choice of two polling stations, while Australia, Japan and South Africa will have one each.
This is not the final list of polling stations abroad, as Bulgarians from France and Germany have asked for more stations to be opened. By June 20 2009, the Foreign Ministry will announce the final list.
There must be at least 100 registered voters for a polling station to be opened.
Of the 252 polling sections that will be opened abroad, 123 will be in Turkey where thousands of Muslim Bulgarians live after many of them were forced by the communist regime to leave Bulgaria in the 1980s.
Since the fall of communism, Bulgarians living in Turkey have been taking an active part in Bulgaria’s elections, sparking resentment from other political groups that they served as a political tool of current ruling coalition partner the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, that traditionally represents Muslim Bulgarians.
At the 2005 national parliamentary elections, more than 40 000 people voted in the 76 polling sections in Turkey. Turnout was so high that many polling stations ran out of ballots and people had to queue for several hours. In 2005 there were a total of 434 polling stations abroad.
For the 2009 elections, the Central Elections Commission has approved the opening of polling stations in 62 countries. Spain will have 15, the UK, Germany and France will have six each while the US and Russian will have five polling stations.
In China, Canada and Afghanistan, Bulgarians will have a choice of two polling stations, while Australia, Japan and South Africa will have one each.
This is not the final list of polling stations abroad, as Bulgarians from France and Germany have asked for more stations to be opened. By June 20 2009, the Foreign Ministry will announce the final list.
There must be at least 100 registered voters for a polling station to be opened.
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I agree with Bulgarian. Very well done!
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mbkirova, I am sorry but I am not sure if you know what you are actually talking about. Let me ask you just three simple questions:
1. Where do Bulgarian Turks not have the same rights as Bulgarians, just give me and the audience a true and valid example? The truth is that your argument is nonsense since these people have exactly the same rights as everyone else (and by the way they are as much victims of the MRF as are Bulgarians!)
2. In which other EU country can you find a party which is in sharp contradiction with the national constitution which postulates that parties should not be founded based (amongst others) on ethnic or religious principles? How can you then say that Ataka should be banned but not the MRF?
3. In which other EU country do you find a party which is organising free trips (massive scale of free bus transportation to Bulgaria) for Turkish voting tourists? In addition, in general the people are permanently living in Turkey, do not see themselves anymore as Bulgarians but as Turkish and do not know anything about the other Bulgarian parties and political system; usually they have just been told to vote for MFR in order to get the free trip. Are you telling us that this is democracy and fairness towards Bulgarians who then have to suffer under the consequences of such a massively biased voting while the Turkish buses drive back home only to come back for the next elections after 4-5 years?
Well, obviously you should prepare yourself a little better before giving unqualified statements.
Dear Ms Kirova and Peaces,
Please kindly, before preaching to others, consider the position of the cart and the horse. Your dislike of Ataka does not warrant righfulness for the Turkification of Bulgaria. Turkey has resorted to genocide in the XX century to avoid the loss of Turkishness. With or without Chicago, the "excursion" guilt syndrom has to be overcome, as all civilised countries do.
I agree with you mbkirova. Congratulations...
While no fan of MRF, and agree that adjustments must be made to assure things are kept democratic, the Turkish minority of Bulgaria has been woefully treated in the past and still is, by the likes of Ataka and others who seem to have absurd views of these 'very Bulgarian' and industrious folks. Shall we make sure all 'non-residents' are kept from voting? that would include a lot of Bulgarians in Chicago...instead of complaining about MRF, assure equal rights and respect for Bg Turks and stop alienating them. It's Ataka which should be banned.
Absolutely unacceptable. MRF (DPS) is unconstitutional and should be shut down and prohibited from participating in any Bulgarian elections. This organisation is anti-Bulgarian and like a virus threatens the very existence of a sovereign and prosperous Bulgaria. The sooner Bulgarians understand and realise the danger this party poses and the sooner it is closed down the more peaceful and smooth this will happen. Bulgarians are patient. But one thing is sure: Sooner or later the Bulgarian response will come, one way or the other!
this is insane. end of.