OSCE Assessment: Elections in Bulgaria Were Transparent and Effective

The Central Election Commission (CEC) held a concluding meeting with the team from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The international observers congratulated the Commission on the organization and said, quoted in a statement from the CEC, that according to them, the elections were transparent, and election day passed peacefully, without significant violations.

In their preliminary conclusions, the international mission positively assessed the work of the election commission. The observers acknowledge the work of the CEC and the election administration, highlighting the high level of trust, the effective preparation at all levels, the transparent process of certifying the voting machines, and the implemented large-scale awareness campaign, including one aimed at young voters. The benefits of the digital tools introduced by the CEC are also noted, including the mobile application for filling in the protocol from the section commissions, which has improved accuracy, as well as the interactive map of the polling stations, facilitating access to information and increasing transparency.

During the meeting, the observers discussed with the CEC issues related to the work of the section election commissions and the determination of results, and expressed support for the CEC's proposals for changes in the legal framework.

The early parliamentary elections on April 19th were held transparently and effectively with high voter turnout, said international observers from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at a press conference last week, who had monitored the conduct of the vote. They noted good organization by the responsible institutions and activity on the part of the citizens, despite the recent changes in the electoral legislation regarding the number of sections abroad. “The fundamental freedoms were generally respected, but the campaign was highly polarized and marked by negative rhetoric,” it says in the written statement.