The famous Hamlet dilemma seems to bring its answer along this time. To be means to vote. One can often hear, especially on the eve of elections that voting is a citizen’s duty and anyone, who feels like one should perform it. However, sociologists say that the interest shown towards polls is visibly going down. “I do not blame the citizens, since it is unfair,” said in an interview for RB Prof. Antoni Todorov, a lecturer at the New Bulgarian University.

“Citizens should see the sense in voting, in order to feel it as a duty,” the political analyst went on to say. “More and more of them realize that the certain vote is a way to explained to them from time to time that they take part in governing. On the next day this moment of participation is melted down in the endless struggling amidst what we call political elite. According to many polls the public sees the latter as being involved in its personal business and not the greater good. To vote or not to vote is a true Hamlet question. Many citizens will have to look for its answer and it is not an easy one to find. I would like to say here that an increasing number of people do not trust politicians and their expectations. The sovereign doesn’t vote because it expects some people to keep their promises, but because in this way citizens declare: this is me, these are my views and that is why I vote. It is a cry, but sinking into the votes of other several millions. Some politicians, seeing polls as trust in advance for them should get rid of that illusion. Citizens vote, in order to express themselves. People, interested in politics are the main group of non-voters – they refuse to vote, since they monitor what’s happening. This is something worth discussing within society.”

Many ask themselves on the sense of voting before the next election date, as there is no option, satisfying enough among all. How do we choose?

“There is no recipe here that I can share,” Prof. Todorov explains. “Everyone has one’s own understanding and view, regarding those, who want the power. Polls are always a great compromise. Those, who refuse to vote should also be aware of that, as the overall result comes from our collective behavior. Everyone decides whether to vote or not on his/her own. Voters cast their ballot and the collective result distributes the power resource. I say that because many citizens claim there is no point in voting, as their single vote has no significant weight. How do we choose then? Some people simply choose the one they have sympathy for, but after all, parliament is not a beauty salon. There have been recent demands over the year of protests for decent people to enter the National Assembly. Such honest people do not abuse of power and take care of the society. This won’t be easy, if as usual citizens wait for the candidate lists to be arranged and then simply pick one. Their new tool should be pressure over parties to select and place people that the society sees as honest and with good intentions. Honest is much more important than being experts, since a dishonest expert can do far more harm to the public. A constant pressure, including the threat for early elections – it is obviously the main tool remaining in the hands of citizens. Such constant pressure will maybe discipline the political class and will make it a bit more careful with the selection of political leaders and the ruling of common activities,” Prof. Todorov says in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev