On elections and people – hope for dialogue or anticipation of the morning dew

"My father kept telling tale after tale, his storytelling a matter of life and death. He knew that if he stopped, everything he brought to the office would disappear like the morning dew on the strawberries in the garden."

The quote is from the fourth novel "Death and the Gardener" by Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov, winner of the 2024 Booker International Prize. And as only the world-renowned author can, his words unite the Bulgarian yesterday, today and tomorrow. Poetic! And this Sunday, the poetry of Bulgaria was enclosed in the words expressing the desire for a better tomorrow for our compatriots all over the world, which Radio Bulgaria tried to convey throughout the entire election day and for the eighth time in a row in the past five years. From New Zealand, through North Macedonia, Austria, Switzerland, France and England to the recently closed Bulgarian polling stations in the USA – we witnessed high electoral activity among our compatriots abroad, faith with a dose of pessimism and a huge desire for change from within. A change in the model of governance, the quality of work and, above all, a change in the results that determine the life of the Bulgarian today. Our interlocutors gave their votes, hope and love for the only goal before them – a stronger, more dignified and democratic Bulgaria.

"I think and hope that 8 will be a lucky number and that we will already have some stability in the direction in which we can all be together. Maybe we will find some way forward," said the chair of the election section in Christchurch (New Zealand), Svetlozara Aleksieva Bryant.

Bulgarians in New Zealand vote with hope

In neighboring Australia, the election section in Melbourne reported a record number of voters in recent years - 149 people, or nearly 70% more compared to October 2024. The secretary of the Election Commission there Mancho Manev is a moderate optimist.

"We are very far from our homeland, over 15,000 km away, and we sincerely hope that all our relatives who remained in Bulgaria will have a stable government that will lead Bulgaria towards better European integration and success."

Nearly 70% higher voter turnout reported at polling station in Melbourne

Others still assumed that a stable government can hardly be built on today's political environment in the country.

Record number of voters reported by noon in North Macedonia

The people gave their credit of trust. And they did it in the most categorical way since 2021, with a voter turnout of over 48% (according to the Myara Agency) and the opportunity for one party to have an absolute majority in the 52nd National Assembly. Now, this same people expect action and dialogue between voters and those in power. A dialogue that Radio Bulgaria's interlocutors began on election day.

"Have responsibility and awareness for the empowerment that citizens give you today and for the price they pay to empower you," Nikolay Yanev from Austria says.

"The people are the ones who give them a mandate to be in parliament and to act to make the lives of all Bulgarians better,” Svetoslava Alexieva says.

"They should not think about their own pockets. They should think about Bulgaria and the Bulgarians, about those who elected them. And the day we have a fully functioning judicial system and they are personally and criminally responsible for their actions and the signatures they have put, they will truly understand it," Marin Kachamakov from Geneva, Switzerland, says.

By noon, voter turnout among Bulgarians in Switzerland surpasses 2024 levels

"They really need to look at the interests of Bulgaria, the interests of our country in Europe and try to bring back the Bulgarians who are abroad, but also to make our country good for living at the level of the other Western European countries," Marin Yotov from Berlin says about his expectations. Atanas Velichkov from Skopje reminds us of the pain of the Bulgarians in North Macedonia:

"Without going into clichés, I just want to ask them to be careful about Bulgaria's image internationally. Because it is very important for us, Bulgarians abroad. If our country is worthy, no one will try to play games with us."

Our life is a novel that we write together. And with the clear thought that not everyone can do it like Georgi Gospodinov, we can at least hope that politicians and citizens can work together more, talk and hear each other more. Let's not acknowledge each other only from election to election, because faith disappears and hope fades.

"People believe you. People have trusted you and expect change!", Kristiana Naneva from the Polish city of Krakow has told Radio Bulgaria.

Interviews by Ivo Ivanov, Gergana Mancheva, Yoan Kolev, Darina Grigorova and Vessela Krasteva have been used.