Low voter turnout again among Bulgarians in Kuwait in presidential runoff

The voting process is proceeding calmly at the only polling station opened for Bulgarians in Kuwait. It is located at the Bulgarian Embassy, but the low-turnout trend seen a week ago has persisted today.

Bulgaria еlects its seventh President and Vice President

“Some people have probably voted for other presidential tickets that are not competing in the run-off,” suggests Milena Baeva, chair of the polling station commission and head of the country’s only Bulgarian school, Sts Cyril and Methodius.

A week ago, in an interview with Radio Bulgaria, she pointed out that the Bulgarian community had shrunk considerably over the previous six months following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Today, she adds:

“Anxiety is mounting here. The situation is quite volatile and tense at the moment, and people are very worried, so this is probably having an impact as well.”

Election Day fell on a working day for Bulgarians in Kuwait

She sees the coincidence of election day with Bulgaria’s National Awakeners’ Day as symbolically linked to the hope that the entire nation will awaken.

“I very much hoped that somehow we would wake up, take matters into our own hands and believe that everything depends on us. That was my hope. I still hope that, since today is a working day here, most people will come to vote after work. So that is my hope: that today we will wake up and believe.

“As head of the Bulgarian school, I would like to salute all my fellow professionals, both in Bulgaria and abroad, who have taken on the challenging task of keeping the Bulgarian spirit alive and awakening our national consciousness, inspiring our children and awakening ourselves. Happy holiday, dear colleagues! May you be healthy and strong, and may you always find the strength and enthusiasm to carry on this demanding mission. Today, we are all the Awakeners.”

For Milena Baeva, the office of Bulgaria’s president embodies one essential thing:

“Our image and our statement to the rest of the world. That is why I consider it very important who will represent us. And I want to reiterate that I would like it to be someone I can be proud of, someone with a clear and firm stance in defence of Bulgaria’s interests.”

Read also:

Polling stations in Australia report higher voter turnout

Marinela Koleva: More people in Krakow eager to vote than in the first round

Edited by E. Karkalanova

Engish: R. Petkova