Name of Ex Bulgarian Tsar Saxe-Coburg Missing in Voter Lists

The name of Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, has been deleted from the voter lists for the country's October 23 presidential and local elections.

The news was reported by the Bulgarian 24 Chassa (24 hours) daily, citing Saxe-Coburg's spokesperson, Galya Dicheva.

Dicheva said that 2 years ago the former PM has changed his address registration and is no longer listed as resident of the village of Banya, but as resident of the Vrana palace near Sofia, which means he would be automatically entitled to cast a ballot in the capital. A check of the Tsar's team established that his name had not been included in the voter lists.

The spokesperson further informs they did not receive any sensible explanation of how and why this happened, but have been assured by the Central Electoral Commission that Saxe-Coburg can be included in the list on the spot if he goes to the voting poll.

"I do hope this is true and there wouldn't be a problem," Dicheva says.

Until now, the former PM voted in the Sofia Gorublyane district by presenting a permit to vote at a location other than his registered address. After such possibility was eliminated in the new Election Code, Saxe-Coburg's voting poll is now located in the Sofia Druzhba district where he plans to cast a ballot Sunday.

According to data from Main Directorate Civil Registration and Administrative Services, GRAO, 444 749 names have been deleted from local elections lists over having a permanent address abroad and 32 390 from the presidential elections lists because they are registered to vote outside the country. Another 7 340 have been deleted since they are serving prison terms.

6.5 million Bulgarians can vote Sunday for nearly 30 000 candidates for local mayors and municipal councilors while 6.9 (because this includes the vote abroad) can elect the country's new president among a total of 18 hopefuls.