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

Elections 2023

Ventsislav Georgiev, Las Vegas: Corruption is the killer of any ‎development in Bulgaria

Simeon Angelov: Whichever party comes to power, the life of the ‎average Bulgarian does not change

Photo: Maria Samichkova

‎"I have seen the greatest turnout here in the parliamentary elections on ‎April 4, 2021, when nearly 800 Bulgarians voted. Again, this is not a ‎particularly high turnout, given the number of Bulgarian emigrants in ‎Vegas - over 7 thousand, i.e. about 10%. With every next election, the ‎desire to vote decreases," says Ventsislav Georgiev, a member of the election ‎commission, which processes the documents in the Bulgarian bistro ‎where the election in Las Vegas took place, talking to Radio Bulgaria’s ‎collaborator across the ocean, Maria Samichkova.‎


‎"From the Bulgarian politicians, I expect a clear position of Bulgaria ‎regarding the conflict between Russia and the Western world. This is ‎clearly a clash between two value systems, and I would like to know ‎what the exact position will be on this issue, as Bulgaria may be involved ‎in a rather difficult situation regarding the war in Ukraine. 

On the other ‎hand, the fight against corruption is one of the biggest scourges ‎for Bulgarian economy and for the people who live in Bulgaria. We ‎don't feel it here, but when you go to the country, you always face these ‎problems," says our compatriot, who has lived far from his homeland for ‎nearly a quarter of a century. He admits that nostalgia is starting to grow ‎and dreams of being able to return.‎


Simeon Angelov has also been living in the USA for more than two ‎decades. His relatives are in Bulgaria and he votes every time with the ‎hope of changes, because "whichever party comes to power, the life ‎of the average Bulgarian does not change". Will he return to Bulgaria ‎one day?‎

‎"As the father of a family, I would say that if things change one day for ‎the Bulgarian people - yes", our compatriot categorically told Maria ‎Samichkova and Radio Bulgaria.‎


On the territory of the United States, voting was held in 56 polling ‎stations, and the Bulgarian ambassador, Georgi Panayotov, called on ‎the Bulgarians in America to action: "Democracy is based on voter ‎turnout, and I call on all Bulgarian citizens to exercise their right to vote, ‎because in this way their voice will matter. If they don't go vote, they ‎won't be heard." ‎

Compiled by Elena Karkalanova (based on a report by Maria Samichkova)
Photos: Maria Samichkova


Translated and published by Rositsa Petkova


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 spiritual messages of the Resurrection through the eyes of a Bulgarian theologian

This year, Orthodox and Catholic Christians will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ togethe r. On the same date, the entire Christian world will turn its gaze to the empty tomb and will try, to the best of its ability, to empathize with the amazement..

published on 4/19/25 11:15 AM

A pink pelican named Stoycho becomes a real attraction for the residents of Varna

A pink pelican has become a real attraction for the residents of Varna. Hundreds of people have spotted it in the area of the Marine Station in the coastal city and rushed to post his photos on social networks. The pelican is already known there by the..

published on 4/19/25 7:05 AM

Balkan developments

The prices of Easter goods are rising The Easter meal in the Balkan countries will be more expensive this year, BTA reports. Lamb in Serbia costs about 1,400 dinars (EUR 11.5) per kilogram in supermarkets. On Good Friday, fish..

published on 4/17/25 11:39 AM