In brief
At a briefing in Sofia on Sunday evening, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev stated that the November 1 election results were not influenced by vote‑buying. He highlighted police efforts—over 500 reports, ten arrests, and more than 10,000 officers at polling stations—that blocked attempts to distort the vote. The minister warned that upcoming mayoral contests may pose greater challenges.
In a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Interior in Sofia late on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev declared that the national election results had not been affected by vote‑buying practices. The minister talked to reporters after the polls closed, saying that his department’s police contingent had successfully thwarted attempts to manipulate the outcome.
Demerdzhiev cited that the police had registered “more than 500 reports” concerning alleged electoral offenses and that “ten people have been arrested.” He noted that the operation was still underway and the arrest number could climb. According to the minister, the price of a vote “ranges between EUR 40 and EUR 60.” He emphasized that “more than 10,000 officers guarded all polling stations” and that additional personnel were positioned at high‑risk sites that had been identified in advance.
"We received more than 500 reports. Ten people have been arrested. The operation is still ongoing, and this number may increase... I think we rose to every challenge," Demerdzhiev said.
Contributing to the briefing was Acting Chief Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Lyubomir Nikolov, who thanked the thousands of officers for preventing a compromise of the vote. He said that the police had acted wherever there were indications of organized electoral violations. Nikolov also remarked that the individuals responsible for such schemes were well known and that the police had taken every possible measure to stop them from employing the same tactics again.
"We received more than 500 reports. Ten people have been arrested. The operation is still ongoing, and this number may increase. I think we rose to every challenge," said Demerdzhiev.
When questioned about the situation in the city of Kardzhali, the minister noted that initial instructions had advised against voting. He outlined that subsequent clarifications had been issued, but the source materials stop short of detailing the final outcome there.
Looking ahead, Nikolov warned that future mayoral elections could be far more demanding. He explained that guaranteeing citizens’ safety would require vigilance against both conventional and domestic crime. "I assure you that in the coming days you will see a police force operating freely and delivering strong results," he told reporters.
The minister also reflected on previous incidents where voters were allegedly required to recall a specific number, a number that had reportedly been written on their palms. He indicated that investigations into such practices were already underway but did not provide further details at the briefing.
Demerdzhiev concluded that, given the concerted police effort, there was “confidence” that the recorded results were “not influenced by these unscrupulous practices.” He expressed gratitude for the officers’ professional and preventive work that had effectively countered attempts to distort the election.
With the official tally now final, the country's political landscape will focus on next steps, including addressing the concerns that may arise in forthcoming local elections. The Ministry’s emphasis on heightened policing during the national vote marks a clear message that any future electoral interference attempts will be met with rigorous enforcement. The ministry will likely continue to monitor possible vote‑buying schemes as the nation prepares for upcoming mayoral contests.
