Record number of polling stations in Turkey for Bulgaria's elections
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.