Half of Bulgaria's 2009 Voting Stations Abroad Will Be in Turkey

Almost 50% of Bulgaria's voting stations abroad for the 2009 Parliamentary Elections will be located in Turkey.

This was announced Wednesday by Biser Troyanov, the Spokesperson of Bulgaria's Central Electoral Commission (CEC).

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry has proposed to the CEC that a total of 252 voting stations be opened in 62 countries around the world. 123 of those will be located in Turkey.

Bulgaria has a sizable minority in Turkey composed mostly of Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin who emigrated during the assimilation campaign known as the "Revival Process", which was carried out in the late 1980s by the regime of the Bulgarian Communist Party.

Ever since then, the influence on the Turkey vote on Bulgarian politics (including by persons residing in Turkey and returning with special buses only in order to vote in Bulgaria) has been a matter of controversy.

Under the Bulgarian legislation, Bulgaria could have polling stations abroad in every city with a Bulgarian embassy or consulate. A polling station could be opened in a city without a consulate at the request of at least 100 Bulgarian citizens residing there, or at the special request of the Bulgarian Ambassador in the respective country.

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