Sofia Police Vows Order after Polls Closing

The police in Sofia have adequate manpower and had undertaken all necessary measures to prevent chaos after the closing of the polls in the local and presidential elections runoff Sunday.

The information was reported by Milcho Enev, Chief of the Main Directorate Security Police.

Enev says that if needed, additional police - up to 50% more will be dispatched to help the Sofia Municipal Electoral Commission (OIC) with the organization of the postelection process, adding there is the same preparedness across the country.

The police chief points out the authorities have undertaken the measures over tensions in the Sofia Universiada Hall, which erupted when polls closed in the first round on October 23 and voting polls commissions attempted to deliver their documentation.

"We are ready for the night. The problems with OIC stemmed from turning in ballots and protocols from voting polls, and were not related to safety, order and security around the Hall," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Emiliya Peneva, from the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassations, announced that two thirds of all pre-trial proceedings in prosecutor's offices across the country are over alleged vote buying. The most cases are in Novi Pazar – 8; Nessebar – 4, Sofia – 4, and Plovdiv – 3.

In the aftermath of the October 23 presidential and local elections, the Sofia Municipal Electoral Commission (OIC) was overrun by total disarray over poor organization and long delays in the counting of ballots, which continued well into the night.