Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Pre-election tension between Sofia and Ankara occurs

Photo: BGNES

Sofia and Ankara, which have been avoiding for a very long time tension related to the migrant crisis, confronted twice in one week only on election issues. First, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested against the recent statement of Turkey’s Minister of Labor and Social Security Mehmet Muezzinoglu. Bulgaria interpreted his statement as unacceptable support towards a given political party and interference in Bulgaria’s home affairs. Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry reminded that Turkey itself banned all types of political propaganda related to the forthcoming Parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. One day later, Ankara called on Bulgaria to cease its measures aimed at limiting political rights of the minorities. According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fact that the number of polling stations is restricted to 35 in non-EU countries impedes the Bulgarian nationals in Tukey to cast their ballots at the elections. Following a series of violent disputes the Bulgarian political parties introduced that restriction last year, but Ankara did not react immediately. Apparently, Turkey’s sensitization on that issue is not only due to Sofia’s protest, but also to similar criticism expressed by Germany which intended to restrict political agitations of Turkish officials on its territory related to the forthcoming referendum in Turkey. Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Turkey to make sure such violations would not happen in the future. Thus, the two countries will be able to focus on more important topics in their bilateral relations. Bulgaria’s caretaker Premier Ognyan Gerdzhikov only called the agitation of Turkey’s Labor Minister inappropriate. However, Bulgaria has not abandoned the arguments of its protest and the country’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its stand after Turkey’s official response. The statement of Bulgaria’s caretaker cabinet that there are more important topics in the Bulgaria-Turkey bilateral relations is quite reasonable. However, a regular Bulgarian goverment should discuss those topics with Turkey after the early Parliamentary elections on March 26.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Bulgarians and the Gagauz in Moldova are wary of the country’s European prospects

The election for parliament in the Republic of Moldova on 28 September, 2025 ended in a landslide victory for the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). The result was seen by many as a validation of the country’s pro-European policy against the..

updated on 10/9/25 1:58 PM
Ivaylo Mirchev

Emergency legal amendment clears path for sale of Lukoil refinery

An emergency legal amendment has paved the way for the sale of Lukoil’s refinery in Burgas, opposition MP Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of Yes, Bulgaria, said on Wednesday. "Today, we have received confirmation that Lukoil has finally found a buyer for..

published on 10/8/25 3:38 PM

No quorum, scandals and friendly fire: Is the government on shaky ground?

Last week, Bulgaria’s 51st National Assembly all but ground to a halt. On each of the three regular sitting days — Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — parliament failed to reach the required quorum of 121 out of 220 deputies. On Friday, for instance, only..

published on 9/29/25 1:42 PM