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Press Review

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This Friday the Bulgarian press focuses on ongoing election tensions between Bulgaria and Turkey. A major reason became yesterday's criticisms voiced by Turkish President Erdogan that on the eve of parliamentary elections Bulgaria exerted "pressure" over the Turks on its territory and this was "unacceptable" for Ankara.

Commenting on this criticism, Standard Daily writes that after Erdogan started quarreling with half of Europe, he finally attacked Bulgaria and its elections. The newspaper also pays attention to the sharp reaction of President Rumen Radev. Under the title "Radev recommends that Erdogan should learn more history and geography," the "Dnevnik" newspaper highlights the words of the president that "Bulgaria does not give, but also does not accept lessons on democracy, especially from countries that do not respect the rule of law" and his recommendation that every statesman should learn the lessons of history and geography.

Sega Daily writes that after it became clear that Ankara had given an 11-day holiday to Bulgarian emigrants in order for them to vote and had urged them to campaign in their home towns, the United Patriots coalition would restart blockades on the Bulgarian-Turkish border and would not allow “election tourists” from the southern neighbor. The blockades would be ended on Sunday at noon. According to the patriots, over 100 buses, as well as many vans passed through Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint during the week. According to the Turkish agency "Dogan," at least 1,200 people from the Istanbul district of Avcilar and at least 4,500 from Bursa would vote in Bulgaria.

"Sega" writes also that Turkish Minister of Labor Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, who recently became notorious for his public campaigning for a Bulgarian party, is now back in the role of a speaker of Ankara and expressed expectations that Bulgarian authorities would ensure transport security and would not hinder the Turkish immigrants to vote. In an interview to Turkish media, the minister criticized Bulgaria that "it was living with fears of the past" and was creating "meaningless troubles" because of its fears of Turkey's great potential. "24 Hours" adds a special touch to the topic, quoting VMRO leader Krasimir Karakachanov who said that Turkey was forcing Bulgarian emigrants to vote in Bulgaria.

English: Al. Markov



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