Bulgarians in Geneva: Lack of open debate is missed chance in election campaign

There are 11 polling stations in the Swiss Confederation this Sunday. One of them is located at Bulgaria’s Permanent Representation in Geneva. Marin Kachamakov is serving on the precinct election commission there for the ninth consecutive time, his fifth as chair. By noon, just over 50 Bulgarians had cast their ballots at the polling station using a voting machine, although, as is traditionally the case, turnout is expected to be highest towards the end of the day, he says.

“In the previous elections in April, around 85% of voters used the voting machine. Today, the law stipulates that in polling stations where more than 300 people vote, voting must take place exclusively by machine, unless the machine breaks down. So far, we have had two elderly ladies, one aged 85 and the other around 80, who managed to vote by machine without any difficulty.”

As for what motivates people to vote, Marin Kachamakov identifies two main differences, largely along generational lines.

“Our older compatriots come to vote for the sake of their grandchildren or their children. Younger people vote for themselves, primarily for a better life of their own. Their motivation lies in a sense of duty and dignity, and in the desire to help Bulgaria in some way by making their voices heard, however far away from home they may be. And let us not forget perhaps the most important thing: in a democracy, we can always vote for autocracy. In an autocracy, we cannot vote for democracy. People need to reflect on this, understand it and bear it in mind when they cast their ballots,” he stresses.

People want to live better lives, and the president should be a unifying figure for the nation and a check on those in power, Kachamakov believes. Commenting on the campaign and the messages put forward by the presidential tickets, he says:

“People who take an interest in Bulgaria and care deeply about the country are very well informed. However, I am not at all convinced that the major national television channels, without naming them, provide sufficiently high-quality coverage. Important, fundamental issues are being overlooked, while other, more everyday matters receive far too much attention. This indirectly leads our compatriots to rely much more heavily on social media for information.”

In this regard, Kachamakov is unequivocal that the absence of a major televised debate between the leading candidates was a serious shortcoming of the election campaign.

If a runoff takes place next week, such a debate could prove crucial for many Bulgarians, and not only those living abroad. It is difficult to predict today how turnout might differ in that second round. One thing is certain: hope and faith in a brighter future for Bulgaria have not faded.