SOFIA, 4 April 2021 – As Bulgarian voters cast their ballots today, parliamentarians from across the OSCE region are also in polling stations, observing the election process.
Mr. Artur Gerasymov (MP, Ukraine), is Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short term observer mission, and Senator Pascal Allizard from France heads the OSCE PA’s Delegation. The 44-member team of parliamentarians and staff from 12 OSCE countries deployed today throughout Sofia and multiple regions including Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Troyan, Lovech and Varna.
The OSCE PA observers work closely with the Long-Term Election Observer mission of the OSCE/ODIHR and the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Before election day the observers received briefings from government officials, political parties, civil society and media representatives in an online format. The meetings included discussion related to electoral legislation, campaign activity, media coverage, election administration, among other issues.
“Our teams deployed across the country, and I look forward to hearing their feedback. Personally, I am particularly interested to observe the process of machine voting, which was newly introduced and is being used for the first time in national elections in Bulgaria”, said Gerasymov while leaving a polling station in Sofia earlier today.
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Senator Pascal Allizard, Head the OSCE PA’s Delegation, observing elections in Bulgaria, 4 April 2021
“As an observation mission, the COVID-19 pandemic poses challenges for us just as it does for the election organizers and everybody else, but we are adapting to the circumstances. Our pre-election briefings were entirely online, and we have all been recently tested for COVID,” said Allizard. “As for our presence in polling stations, we are following our usual procedures as much as possible while of course taking all necessary precautions in close co-operation with election officials to protect the health of voters, and election officials.”
During the observation, the OSCE Special Co-ordinator Artur Gerasymov observed elections in several parts of Sofia, including a local Roma community. Head of the OSCE PA Delegation Pascal Allizard also monitored the polling stations opening procedure in Sofia.
The findings of the joint international election observation mission will be presented during a press conference at 15.00 local time (GMT +3) on 5 April 2021. Please click here for further information.
Photos available for public use on Flickr