874.00/7–745: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:10 p.m.]
341. Mission reliably informed that formula for composition of single FF lists in forthcoming general election is: Communists 95 seats; Agrarians (Obbov hand picked in agreement with Communists) 95; Zveno 46; Socialists (Neikov also hand picked) 31; Independents 9; total seats 276. Post-election in session by deputies from Communist-dictated [Page 264] FF program, to which each party of the Front long since gave its formal adherence, is dealt with by article 105 of electoral law providing for cancellation of mandates and for by-elections in cases where deputies stray from party’s pre-election program.
Following is reliable estimate of what free elections based on proportional seating formula with whole country constituting one circumscription would return:
Communists 50; Zveno 20; Socialists 20; Democrats, Radicals, etc. (now excluded by single list formula) 35; Agrarians 151. If former election system of separate circumscriptions and plurality votes were employed it is thought that Communists could not gain at the outside more than 20 seats.
Rptd to Moscow No. 184.