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

Early elections - 27 October 2024:

Very high turnout of Bulgarians in Brussels

Photo: Personal archive

Very high turnout by midday at one of the 16 polling stations in the heart of Europe - Brussels. 334 Bulgarians (as of 15:00 Bulgarian time) have so far exercised their right to vote in Section 2 of the Permanent Representation of Bulgaria to the EU, the section's deputy chairwoman Aneta Todorova told Radio Bulgaria. For comparison, only three months ago, the total number of voters in the section for the whole day was 332 people. 

"The previous time, interest increased around midday, when a kilometre-long queue formed, and probably people learned their lesson and just planned their time more flexibly. With 300 by midday, I'm guessing that many more will come in the afternoon."

At the polling station, people could vote either by paper ballot or by machine. There were no problems with the actual organisation of the day, Todorova said. 

Aneta Todorova

"So far there has not been any defect in the machine. We have read that there are many such cases in Bulgaria, but we have not had any problems".

The attitude of her fellow citizens in Brussels is mixed, Aneta tells us. People don't feel like voting so many times a year, and each time they said they hoped it would be the last time and that a government would finally be formed". She herself does not think that will happen this time.

"Now it seems to me that not enough people voted in Bulgaria. I don't know how dangerous this is for democracy, but not everyone exercises their right to vote, at least according to what we read, in our country 10% had voted by midday. And here the percentage is much higher," says the Bulgarian soprano with a touch of reproach and bitterness.

"I am taking part again (in the election process - ed.) because I hope for a good future for our country. After all, our parents live there, our relatives, and by voting from abroad we hope to help them. And to return one day to a better country".



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

Greece reinforces police at Promakhon checkpoint on border with Bulgaria to speed up border crossing

Authorities in Greece will deploy more police officers at the Promakhon checkpoint on the border with Bulgaria to speed up the processing of documents for people and vehicles crossing the border, reports BNR's correspondent in Greece, Katya Peeva...

published on 11/22/24 6:09 PM
Hungarian Minister of Interior Sandor Pinter

Romania and Bulgaria have a chance to join Schengen by land as of January 2025

Romania and Bulgaria have a chance to join the Schengen area by land as  of January 2025 , Hungarian Interior Minister Sándor Pinter said after an informal meeting in Budapest of the interior ministers of Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Austria ...

published on 11/22/24 4:37 PM

Sofia Christmas festival will kick off tonight in front of National Palace of Culture

The Sofia Christmas Festival will open tonight in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture in the heart of Sofia . The third edition of the festival starts at 6.30 pm with a rich program and attractions - а Ferris wheel, a carousel and..

published on 11/22/24 4:24 PM