HÖH party in Bulgaria prepares for local elections

While the preparations for the local elections to be held in Bulgaria on 29 October, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (HÖH) party, the majority of whose members are Turks and Muslims, continues its campaign.

Mustafa Karadayı, Chairman of the HÖH, told AA correspondent about the new style of his party's election campaign and the goals they set.

"Our slogan in this election is 'It is time for a new beginning'," Karadayı said.

Karadayı said that the ruling coalition consisting of pro-European Union (EU) and pro-NATO parties survives with the external support of HÖH and added: "Even those in power prefer to call it 'political organisation' rather than 'coalition'. Even the members of the political organisation, appreciating the key role of HÖH, admit that without the support of our party, the government would fall."

Karadayı noted that after the end of the communist period in Bulgaria in 1989, there was only one party, HÖH, which stood firmly, and said: "Other parties participate in politics, come to power, and disappear after they fall from power."

"The campaign is taking place in a non-aggressive atmosphere"
Mustafa Karadayı pointed out that the HÖH party had endeavoured to reduce the tension in the "aggressive" atmosphere in the parliament, which had been going on for years, and said that this election campaign had passed "in a really non-aggressive atmosphere".

"There is only one party that has been strong in Bulgaria for 33 years. As HÖH, whether in power or in opposition, we have a certain support, we have a certain power." Karadayı said, "Until these elections, we had 38 mayors across the country. God willing, our number of mayors will exceed 40 after the elections. This is our goal."

Karadayı explained that due to the lack of aggressive behaviour among the political rivals, the HÖH party preferred to go to the citizens throughout the country and meet the voters one by one instead of organising big rallies.

The big goal is to become a ruling partner
Emphasising that the HÖH party has high self-confidence, Karadayı also made evaluations on the post-election period.

Mustafa Karadayı, who drew attention to the fact that the issue in the election is not only local administration, noted the following:

"We also support the ruling coalition in Bulgaria. Even if we are not in the coalition at the moment, even if we do not have ministers, we also support the government and the government. Without that support, the government will fall. The parties in the coalition also say: 'Local elections will have a general value. The national weight of political parties will be reviewed once again'."

Karadayı suggested that depending on the success of his party in the local elections and the political weight it will prove in the country, the HÖH party may be included in the cabinet in case of a review of the staff in the cabinet in March.

Karadayı stated that in the rotation-based ruling coalition, it is foreseen that Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel will be replaced in March and Gabriel will take the prime minister's chair:

"If we have enough strength after the elections, we will join the coalition, we will have ministers too. Therefore, in these local elections not only village headmen, local councillors and mayors will be elected, we will once again compare the value of HÖH with the value of other parties and most probably after the local elections we will enter the general power."

Double Holiday
Karadayı reminded that 29 October, when the local elections will be held, is also the Republic Day in Türkiye and said, "The year 2023 is actually a different holiday. Together we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey and the electoral success of our party in Bulgaria. Therefore, 29 October this year will be a double holiday for us."

The party was founded on 4 December 1990 by its current Honorary President Ahmet Doğan. One of the oldest parties in Bulgaria, HÖH has played a key role in the political life of the country for the last 33 years and has been a coalition partner many times.