site.btaMeeting Discusses Coordination between Central Government and Regional Authorities in Preparing Elections

The organization of free and fair elections on October 2 and the coordination between the central government and the regional governors to solve a range of problems inherited from previous incumbencies were the main issues raised by caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev during a working meeting at Sofia's Boyana Residence on Friday, the Government Information Service reported.

The Prime Minister, members of his cabinet and regional governors discussed the government's work in preparing the early parliamentary elections, paying particular attention to preventing influenced voting and vote buying. They laid emphasis on the security of machine voting and acknowledged the need to dispel unfounded fears that voting machines can be tampered with.

Donev underscored the importance of comprehensive coordination between the central government and the regional authorities. The Prime Minister cited the response to recent flooding in the Karlovo area in Central Bulgaria as a model for central-regional coordination.

Firewood was another matter discussed at the meeting. Donev vowed utmost transparency and zero tolerance towards malpractices in harvesting and supplying firewood.

The agenda of the meeting also included road traffic problems, snow clearing during the coming winter, the clearing of riverbeds, the condition of local-level infrastructure, and support for small and medium-sized businesses using EU money.