Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Early parliamentary elections - 27 October 2024

A pediatrician is the chairman of the only polling station in Kuwait

Dr. Tsvetan Tsenkov believes that the way out of the situation is rules in politics, coalition culture among our politicians, long-term strategic policies

D-r Tsvetan Tsenkov
Photo: Private archive

Completely calm and normal, according to the law, the election day is taking place in the only open polling station in Kuwait. The Bulgarian community in the Arab country numbers about 300-350 people, mostly highly educated specialists in the fields of medicine, education, exact sciences and sports. One of them is pediatrician Dr. Tsvetan Tsenkov, who is the chairman of the polling station located in the Bulgarian embassy in Kuwait.


27 Bulgarians living in Kuwait have exercised their right to vote by noon, he tells us with the clarification that the days off there are Friday and Saturday. Sunday is the first working day of the new week and more voters are expected in the later afternoon when our compatriots finish work. In the June parliamentary elections, 58 people voted. It is possible that today they will be more.

"The hope is as always, it remains the same - law and order in the country, rules for work. The fatigue was really noticeable, there are a lot of hesitations, a lot of people seem to be coming to vote out of inertia only. In recent years, they know that no regular government is formed after the elections. In practice, no programs, no strategies can be set in motion. So, in practice, we are left with the hope that at least this time a regular government will be formed. Otherwise, there is no way – whatever hopes we have, whatever proposals we have, they cannot happen without a regular parliament and government."


Dr. Tsenkov has been living and working in Kuwait for 26 years now. And while in Bulgaria the statistics report every year the threatening lack of doctors, and in particular pediatricians, he is categorical that there are qualified professionals, the legislation and administrative regulations that have not been updated for a long time are driving them away from the Motherland.

What is the cure for our sick political system today?

"In my opinion, the electoral legislation is good, because I already have experience participating in election commissions. It is not bad. Politics - there should be rules for it. Politicians should have a coalition culture, be able to communicate with each other and have strategic issues, five-six in number, which, like in many normal countries, should not change, regardless of individual parties and governments," shares Dr. Tsvetan Tsenkov in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.

Photos: private archive


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Бойко Борисов

Vote annulment will not lead to new Bulgarian government, GERB leader Boyko Borissov says

Whether there will be negotiations to form a government will become clear after the election of the speaker of the National Assembly . Parliamentarism requires that the speaker be a GERB member and we will not compromise, GERB leader Boyko Borissov told..

published on 11/4/24 1:54 PM
North Macedonia‘s Premier Hristijan Mickoski

North Macedonia's Premier Hristijan Mickoski spoke with GERB leader Boyko Borissov

North Macedonia‘s Premier Hristijan Mickoski stated that he had a ''sincere and friendly phone conversation with GERB leader Boyko Borissov''.  Hristijan Mickoski congratulated Boyko Borissov on his victory in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections...

published on 10/29/24 8:57 AM

After the vote: Expectations of a cabinet against the backdrop of an even more fragmented parliament

The latest in the string of snap elections for parliament is over but, except for a slight rise in voter turnout compared to the election in June this year, it is still hard to say what the political configurations might be that could lead to the..

updated on 10/28/24 12:04 PM