OSCE/ODIHR presents recommendations from final report on 2014 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria

Elections experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) met with electoral stakeholders in Sofia on 24 and 25 March 2015 to present recommendations from the final report on the 5 October 2014 early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria.

The expert team met with representatives from the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee and discussed amending the legal framework on voter and candidate eligibility, the use of national minority languages, and special measures to promote the participation of women in elections.

“We welcome Bulgaria’s willingness to follow-up on our electoral recommendations in an inclusive and open manner,” said Ambassador Audrey Glover, Head of the Limited Election Observation Mission. “Political will is needed on all sides to promote public confidence in the electoral process.”

Discussions at a roundtable hosted by the Central Election Commission, with the participation of civil society, focused on recommendations to strengthen the election administration, enhance voter education, and ensure effective implementation of campaign finance rules and complaints and appeals procedures, as well as the use of new voting technologies.

“We’re ready to support the authorities in implementing the recommendations offered in our report,” said Richard Lappin, ODIHR Senior Election Adviser. “This includes the review of amendments to electoral legislation or in-depth analysis of certain processes, such as the use of new voting technologies.”

The experts also met with the Council of Electronic Media and representatives of BNT - the Bulgarian public broadcaster - to discuss the implementation of media-related recommendations.

All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to follow up on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.