To Vote or Not?

Novinite Insider » EDITORIAL | Author: Milena Hristova |April 16, 2009, Thursday // 15:29
Bulgaria: To Vote or Not?

Elections often tell you more about what people hate rather than what they like. This was the case with the 2004 elections for European Parliament which were fought for as 25 separate national contests. This was the case with the 2007 elections for European Parliament in Bulgaria, when the vote was nothing but anti-incumbent.

This summer the European elections will take place for the first time across all 27 member states of the European Union in what can be described as the world's biggest multinational democratic vote. Lack of interest and apathy will reign this year, if we are to believe opinion polls.

The average overall turnout is forecast to be just over 40%, the lowest ever recorded for elections for the European Parliament. Apathy is widespread not only in the older member states, but also, and this comes as depressing piece of news to the believers in the European project, in the newcomers Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the European block in 2007.

One of the largest "definitely not vote" groups are expected to be in Central European countries, which were among the most enthusiastic newcomers in 2004. That Europeans will abstain in such large numbers speak of a widespread feeling that this vote will change nothing.

The big question in Europe is how leaders should respond to the steady decline in voter turnout since the first European elections in 1979. The big question in Bulgaria is how leaders should justify the widespread ignorance of what the European Parliament stands for two years after its first MEPs packed up their bags for Brussels and Strasbourg.

Brussels' biggest mistake will be to view June 7 elections as a test of how much support exists in Europe and Bulgaria in particular. Amidst the complexities of holding two elections in the summer Bulgarians can hardly be expected to be enthusiastic about something they hardly know.

What they definitely should be enthusiastic about are the general elections that will come a month later and that holds democracy itself at stake - amendments to the election legislation, adopted just months ahead of the general vote, secured the power of the ruling Socialist-led coalition and nearly killed all hopes for survival of the right-wing opposition.

Abstaining from voting is the most obvious way, in which voters can give politicians a bloody nose in the European elections in June. Voting is the most obvious way, in which Bulgarian voters can give local politicians a bloody nose in the general elections in July.

 

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Tags: elections 2009, Bulgaria Votes 2009

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