Vox Populi: Kristiana Kuneva from Sofia, Bulgaria

1. What are your expectations/hopes from these elections?

I hope that the European elections 2019 will bring a more constructive and positive change on the European political arena in terms of strengthening the virtue of being well informed, bringing higher level of solidarity among peoples, and promoting the core values of democracy.

I consider the quality of people to always search for and acquire information about the relevant issues they are dealing with (or in the case, voting for) being of primary importance. Nowadays, being aware of your social, economic, and political surrounding is indispensable in one’s responsibility to take decisions, which will afterwards affect millions of citizens. Globalisation and the progressive development of the essence of the EU give clear evidence that one EU citizen’s decisions of today will immensely impact those of their fellow-citizens in future. This co-relation and mutual dependence is a very impressive achievement, which, however, brings numerous responsibilities – for enhancing the scope of democratic values’ promotion, which in turn unite us all in solidarity for achieving such a virtuous goal!

2. Do you/people in your member state still have faith in the EU to deliver?

I come from one of the member-states who joined the EU the latest, which undeniably makes the whole issue of citizens’ expectations very complicated. However, for the past 12 years of membership, I believe gradually increasing amount of Bulgarian citizens got practically convinced in the immense opportunities and benefits that EU citizenship brought along. Of course, there is and will be many critics of the EU project motivated mostly by nationalistic discourses. I do believe though that as more and more young people take advantage of the opportunities, this pattern will be reversed in the near future.

3. Will you be voting? If so, who for (if you are willing to say)?

I consider voting in national and European elections being my personal responsibility as an active citizen of my country and of the EU. Therefore, I will be definitely voting in May 2019 but I prefer to keep my voting preferences private.

4. Tell us some very brief persona/biographical details about yourself?

I have been working in the field of human rights during the past two years. I have graduated from King’s College London, studying Politics. I have chosen my path to be related to human rights implementation as I believe people should be aware of their social and political responsibility to take care of those who are disadvantaged or less able than them.