DPS party briefs OSCE on Bulgarian election law and democracy concerns

Members of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party met with representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to discuss concerns regarding Bulgarian democracy and election legislation.

During the meeting, DPS representatives alleged that democracy in Bulgaria is under threat due to unprecedented pressure and police misconduct during the recent early parliamentary election campaign. They claimed a repressive policy is being used to create fear and tension, specifically targeting the party and its activists under the guise of combating vote-buying. The party reported numerous instances of activists and citizens being subjected to police checks and unlawful detentions based on anonymous tips that resulted in no charges.

The discussion also addressed mandatory machine voting introduced by recent changes to the Election Code. DPS expressed reservations about current voting technology, citing previous failures where machines malfunctioned or produced errors. They proposed amendments to the Election Code to introduce machines with scanning devices and automated vote counting to improve transparency and control. Additionally, the party advocated for removing restrictions on disclosing voting sections outside the European Union and expressed concern over new requirements for Bulgarian citizens voting abroad to sign declarations, which they argue could cause delays and long queues.