By-elections in 14 Bulgarian localities: scandal-hit village of Malorad picks new mayor
Voters in 14 Bulgarian localities go to the polls shortly before the presidential election. Malorad's mayor was removed after a conviction became final.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
By-elections are being held in 14 localities across Bulgaria on Sunday, including Polski Trambesh, Malo Konare and Iskrets in Svoge municipality. The village of Malorad in Borovan municipality in the country's northwest is also electing a new mayor, public broadcaster BNT reported.
The previous mayor lost his post in July after a sentence against him became final. The district court in Byala Slatina gave him a six-month suspended prison term for driving after taking drugs, Fakti.bg reported. Five candidates are running and about 1,000 people are eligible to vote, according to broadcaster RMTV.
Malorad drew national attention in the October 2023 local elections, when a BNT report revealed that preference votes had allegedly been added to ballots. Two polling station commission members were detained at the time, according to BNT.