"Our ultimate goal is restoring the confidence of Bulgarian citizens in our political institutions in order to show the world that Bulgaria is a civilized European country that is able to organize normal elections with legitimate results," said Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki after the national meeting of the leadership of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior. The main topic of the forum was the security of the early parliamentary elections scheduled for October 5 this year, as well as combating vote trading. Prime Minister Bliznashki told Radio Bulgaria that preparation of elections was going well and gave his political assessment of the processes.

"People generally believe that we should mobilize all available resources for prevention activities. People involved in the process of selling and buying votes are mostly associated with criminal networks. It has been mentioned that the police should check the activities of people who were involved in vote buying during the past 5 years. Meanwhile, police have busted the first criminal group specialized in vote buying."

Professor Bliznashki assured the Ministry of Interior that he would support its actions. "Your success will be my success, too, for the benefit of Bulgaria" - he said. Professor Bliznashki was pleased with the ongoing preparations for the elections.

"Things are currently going well. I have been monitoring the whole process. The government has been actively working. A group of experts in the framework of the cabinet has been coordinating the activities of the administration and I receive information about the processes on a daily basis.”

Next week the Election Board will also start functioning, the Prime Minister told Radio Bulgaria. He has personally visited the printing house of the Bulgarian National Bank in order to inspect the printing of ballots. He is convinced printing could start immediately after the Central Electoral Committee places its order. Commenting on the decision of the CEC for opening 500 polling stations with experimental machine voting, prof. Bliznashki said he hoped CEC will reconsider its decision because there was money for just 250 such stations. The Prime Minister added that some 300 polling stations will open abroad.

Organizing fair elections is the major task of the caretaker government with chief responsibility going to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria. Operational work in relation to preserving order and the prevention of crimes is a responsibility of the Ministry of Interior and the prosecution.

Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov told Radio Bulgaria he would assess the work done after the end of the elections.

"My assessment will be clear on October 6. I cannot give assessment now. The results of the work of the ministry will be seen after the elections.”

Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Svetozar Lazarov is pleased with work done so far and told Radio Bulgaria about the first case of busted criminal network associated with trading of votes

"Vote-buying is actually a result of shortcomings in the functioning of the law enforcement system. After all it is important that society knows the state has will to prevent such and other crimes. Using fear and other forms of dependence in order to manipulate the vote of people cannot be allowed to take place.”

The Secretary General said also that the ministry had information related to certain criminal networks and gangs of being involved in vote buying before and planning similar activities now. The Interior Ministry will work in cooperation with the National Council including the prosecution and SANS for the successful reaction to signals related to trading of votes, it was repored.

English: Alexander Markov