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One in five Bulgarians ready to sell vote: study

19 October 2011, 17:20 CET
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(SOFIA) - Almost one in five Bulgarian voters would sell their vote in Sunday's presidential and local elections in the European Union's poorest member, a Transparency International study showed Wednesday.

Just over 12 percent are ready to sell their vote and 6.8 percent say they would do so if they were offered more than the going rate, the study commissioned by the Bulgarian arm of graft watchdog Transparency International said.

In previous elections votes in the 7.6-million-strong south-eastern European country were sold for around 30 leva (15 euros, $21) in rural areas and 50 leva in cities.

The survey of 1,000 voters also found seven percent saying they were under pressure from their employer to vote for the candidate of the latter's choice, while close to 80 percent thought irregularities were common.

Fifty-eight percent of those who said they would sell their vote cited poverty as the reason.

The buying of votes, not only with money but also in exchange for food or other goods, has long been a feature of Bulgarian politics since the end of communism two decades ago, despite being illegal.

Selling a vote is punishable with three years in prison and a fine of between 500 euros and 2,500 euros, while those buying face five years behind bars and a penalty of between 5,000 euros and 10,000 euros.

Polls indicate that Rossen Plevneliev, 47, the candidate of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's right-wing GERB party, will score between 38 and 40 percent of the vote in the first round, with the second round set for October 20.

He would replace the current socialist head of state Georgy Parvanov, 55, who is stepping down after two terms in office in the largely ceremonial post. The president can, however, veto legislation under certain circumstances.

The vote, along with elections for municipal councils, is being seen as a test of popularity for Borisov half-way through his term amid a weakening economy, continuing problems with corruption and sometimes violent ethnic tensions.

Plevneliev's main challenger is the left-wing Ivaylo Kalfin, 47, a former foreign minister and European MP, who is credited by polls with 28 percent of the vote.

Analysts caution however that Bulgarian voter surveys are often unreliable.

Other candidates include former European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva and around 15 others including a punk rock singer.


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