Interior Ministry Investigates New Vote-Buying Schemes

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry is investigating new vote-buying schemes, caretaker Interior Minister Yordan Bakalov told the Darik national radio. 

The newest scheme was a "casting" for a reality show at which the candidates are told to vote for a certain party or coalition and are being paid. 

Another was the issuing of logging permits, in exchange for a promise to vote for a certain party or coalition. 

"In the small settlements people know each other very well and there is a brisk vote trade going", Bakalov said.

He expressed his concern that candidates on the party list might try and buy preferential votes. Thus even candidates way down on the list, could get a seat in Parliament at the upcoming early elections on October 5.