Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Fined and Money Seized for Election Code Violation

Title: Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Fined BGN 2,000 for Violating Election Code

Date: June 20, 2023

Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has been fined BGN 2,000 by the Central Election Commission (CEC) for violating the Election Code during the November 14, 2021 vote for the President and the National Assembly. The fine was imposed due to illegal campaigning on Petkov’s part, as he announced the numbers of the presidential candidate and the political party he voted for after exercising his right to vote.

According to sources in the revenue agency, the National Revenue Agency managed to collect the fine from Petkov, almost a year after it was imposed by the CEC. Petkov had previously announced his readiness to immediately pay the fine, but managed to avoid attempts to hand over the payment until 2022. Eventually, the CEC classified him as a bad debtor and transferred the case to the National Revenue Agency.

The fine of BGN 2,000 was confirmed by the spokesperson of the CEC, Rositsa Mateva, who stated that a decision had been adopted and a criminal decree would be issued to determine the amount of the fine. Tsvetozar Tomov, the deputy chairman and CEC spokesman, called on all leading politicians to refrain from sharing their vote, emphasizing that it is a violation of the Election Code.

In response to questions from journalists about his actions on election day, Petkov defended himself by stating that he shared his vote as a citizen, not as a politician, and that he was not campaigning for anyone. However, a complaint filed by the GERB-SDS coalition led to the CEC’s decision to fine him.

This incident highlights the importance of adhering to election regulations and refraining from any actions that could be perceived as campaigning on election day. The enforcement of fines by the National Revenue Agency serves as a reminder that individuals must fulfill their financial obligations, even if they hold prominent positions in the government.

Source: Stefan Tashev, breaking.bg

How did former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov violate the Election Code during the November 14, 2021 vote?

Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Fined BGN 2,000 for Violating Election Code

Former Prime Minister Kiril Petkov has recently been fined BGN 2,000 by the Central Election Commission (CEC) for violating the Election Code during the November 14, 2021 vote for the President and the National Assembly. The fine was imposed due to Petkov’s illegal campaigning activities, where he publicly disclosed the numbers of the presidential candidate and the political party he voted for after casting his vote.

After almost a year, the National Revenue Agency successfully collected the fine from Petkov, following previous attempts to hand it over. The CEC classified him as a bad debtor and ultimately forwarded the case to the National Revenue Agency. The spokesperson of the CEC, Rositsa Mateva, confirmed the BGN 2,000 fine and stated that a decision had been made, with a criminal decree to be issued to determine the precise amount.

Tsvetozar Tomov, the deputy chairman and CEC spokesman, called on all prominent politicians to refrain from sharing their vote, emphasizing that such actions are clear violations of the Election Code. Petkov defended himself, claiming that he shared his vote as a citizen and not as a politician, and that he did not campaign for any specific candidate or party. However, a complaint filed by the GERB-SDS coalition led to the CEC’s decision to impose the fine.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to election regulations and refraining from any activities that can be perceived as campaigning on election day. Moreover, the enforcement of fines by the National Revenue Agency highlights the need for individuals, including those in prominent government positions, to fulfill their financial obligations.