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Bulgarie - Bulgaria
Elections parlementaires nationales 2009
National Parliamentary elections 2009
Bulgaria New Finance Minister: BGN 500 M Sank in Belene Nuclear Plant
Energy
Bulgaria's Finance Minister nominee, Simeon Djankov, has declared that some BGN 500 M "disappeared" during the preparation for the construction of Belene Nuclear Power Plant.
Djankov said in an interview for the Standart Daily that BGN 800 M were spent for the clearing of the construction site in the town of Belene where Bulgaria's second nuclear power plant is to be constructed.
"In other countries with similar projects this activity costs BGN 250 M at most. I am perplexed as to where the other BGN 500 M went", Djankov is quoted as saying.
He also said that during the last few months the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy and Economy had made contracts for enormous sums of money in order to undermine the state budget for years to come.
Earlier, Bulgaria's PM-to-be, GERB leader Boyko Borisov asked outgoing Economy Minister Petar Dimitrov not sign any contracts or new deals.
Dimitrov himself denied Monday morning Djankov's allegations that BGN 500 M had gone missing. He said the facts presented by the new Finance Minister were untrue, and that he had presented the actual figures in the Parliament several times.
Bulgaria PM-to-Be Borisov Vows to Promote Women in Country Rule
Domestic
Bulgaria's future Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, is convening all GERB MPs Monday to discuss details of their upcoming work.
Borisov, who is the informal leader of the party winner of the July 5 general elections - Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), spoke in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, Sunday.
Borisov informed that he was planning to dismiss as early as Monday one of his freshly elected Members of the Parliament (MPs) over political disagreements.
The GERB leader also stated he was going to instruct the party MPs to never vote with somebody else's card, adding the 41st General Assembly was going to have less parliamentary commissions and the leadership of those commissions would be assigned on a rotational principle to opposition parties.
"People expect open and honest rule, they expect change - the only way for this to happen is to assign the opposition some monitoring functions," Borisov said.
When asked by the radio host to define the opposition, the GERB leader said both the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms and the Bulgarian Socialist Party should not be underestimated.
Borisov also hinted that the new speaker of the Parliament could be a woman.
"I plan to introduce more women in the country's rule. It is proven, both by Europe and the US, they achieve great success in politics. Our society is indebted to the Bulgarian woman," the future PM said.
Borisov, once again, declined revealing more names from the new Cabinet, except the three officially announced ones so far - Simeon Diyankov for the Finance Ministry, Tsvetan Tsvetanov for the Interior and Iordanka Fandakova for Education.
Borisov reiterated his prediction about the looming waste crisis on a national level, his disagreement of the last minute diplomatic appointments, and his mistrust for current Energy Minister, Petar Dimitrov, which triggered the request to temporarily halt all crucial energy projects.
The GERB leader stated the upcoming European Commission report on Bulgaria's justice system was going to be extremely critical.
Financial Minister Nominee: Currently, Bulgaria Does not Need IMF Agreement
Finance
Bulgaria does not need to sign an agreement for financial support form the International Monetary Fund (IMF)at the moment.
This was announced Saturday morning by Bulgaria's future Financial Minister, Simeon Djankov, in an interview for Darik Radio.
In his words, one of the first things to do after the government starts working, along with the actualization of the budget, is to invite the IMF to analyze the budget incomes and expenses for 2009 and 2010.
Based on this outside audit, have the budget incomes and spending clear, in February ot March 2010, when the direction of the economy is clear, too, there may be a loan from the IMF.
"According to me there is no need for a loan from the IMF at that moment", Djankov said.
Until November it will be decided whether Bulgaria can meet the requirements for the ERM2, the first stage of the acceptance to the Eurozone, he added.
"We have to be close to the end of the year, because all the results are being estimated on yearly bases. I think that in November we may file a preliminary application for initiating negotiation for acceptance in the Euro area. There are four to six months of technical work, and after that we will have annual economic results, with which, if we meet the requirements the process of acceptance will start really fast", Djankov explained.
The currency peg will remain active in Bulgarian until entering the Eurozone, and the fixed exchange rate between EUR and BGN will remain the same.
Bulgaria EU Commissioner Kuneva Picks EC over EP
Bulgaria in EU
The Bulgarian EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Meglena Kuneva, confirmed Friday she is continuing her work with the EC.
Kuneva spoke during a press conference at the Information Center of the European Commission in Bulgaria.
According to Kuneva, her staying until the end of her Commissioner term in October, would serve Bulgaria better than going into the European Parliament (EP).
On June 7 Kuneva was elected Member of the EP (MEP) on the ticket of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) party. The NMSP of former Tsar and PM, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, suffered a crushing defeat in the July 5 general elections and failed to win any seat in the new General Assembly.
Kuneva announced she had appraised Bulgaria's PM-to-be, Boyko Borisov, informal leader of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party, which won the elections, of her decision and vowed to apply all possible effort to secure the EC support for the new cabinet. She said she also had talks about the new political situation in Bulgaria with the EC President, Jose Manuel Barroso, who was expecting to see a "strong Bulgaria in the EU."
"My decision is above any personal ambitions, interests or agenda," Kuneva stated.
Another motive voiced by Meglena Kuneva is that by giving up her Commissioner mandate, Bulgaria would not have a Commissioner in the EC for the entire month of September, leading to the weakening of the country's EC role at times when Bulgaria is expecting two crucial reports.
Kuneva congratulated Boyko Borisov with the clear victory and wished him to lead the country in the right direction.
Kuneva's decision automatically secures the EP seat for the third person on the NMSP MEP ballot - Stanimir Ilchev.
The Economist: Borisov’s Turn
Views on BG
From The Economist (print edition)
Bulgarians have elected a popular but unpredictable new leader.
Exasperated voters boot out a bad government and install an unknown one. That is the Bulgarian election in a nutshell, after the defeat of the Socialists (ex-communists) by a centre-right populist party led by Boyko Borisov, a cigar-chomping ex-bodyguard. Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, known by its Bulgarian acronym of GERB, took 39.7% of the vote on July 5th, entering parliament and government for the first time.
Few doubted that the Socialists would lose or that GERB would do well. Bulgaria's leaders have been the subject of humiliating criticism by the European Commission, worried about endemic corruption and links between organised crime and some bits of government. Mr Borisov has been a lively mayor of Sofia who has shaken up the capital's administration. But few expected voters' discontent to be so strong. Turnout was high, at 60%. Mr Borisov won support from change-hungry voters, even if they felt queasy about his headstrong personality and spotty past.
Instead of needing to broker a coalition with the Socialists, Mr Borisov will now be able to govern with a smaller coalition partner. His most likely ally is a "blue coalition" of two centre-right parties. But Mr Borisov says he will talk to everybody, even Ataka, a racist far-right party that took 9% of the vote.
Denouncing corruption is one thing. Extirpating it is quite another. Mr Borisov says he wants to investigate and jail his predecessors. But few expect quick results. Bulgaria's rich and powerful have shown remarkable agility in dodging the lethargic courts. Mr Borisov has already won plaudits by appointing outside professionals to his cabinet, including Simeon Djankov, an economist at the World Bank who will be the new finance minister. Mr Djankov will have to deal with plunging tax revenues, a GDP fall of perhaps 5% this year and a huge current-account deficit.
A good way to start would be overhauling the country's shambolic public administration. Another idea would be to look into the overlaps between politics and business in the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, which represents the country's Turks. A fixture in government for some years, this party has been criticised by anti-sleaze campaigners, especially those concerned with the misuse of EU funds. The party's unabashed influence-peddling has increasingly scandalised Bulgarians. Its leader, Ahmed Dogan, has publicly boasted of his ability to channel state funds and wield political power.
Such displays of arrogance dented the Socialists' image, as did worries about the pervasive hold of the communist-era secret services and rising Russian influence, notably in energy. The outgoing government's counterattack largely failed to dispel these concerns. It consisted mainly of tweaking the electoral law to penalise small parties and political independents, helped by a costly series of negative television ads. The coalition's unpopularity sent its other member, the liberal party of former King Simeon, out of parliament.
In its place came a new party campaigning against corruption, Order, Law and Justice. Its leader, Yane Yanev, has a habit of producing classified information to back up his claims. That has prompted accusations, which he denies, that he is a front for the secret services. Bulgarian politicians may not yet be able to govern cleanly. But voters have certainly shown that they want it.
Deputies of Bulgaria Former Tsar's Party Resigned before Leader
Elections 2009
All Deputy Chairs of the NMSP have resigned before the party leader and former Tsar and PM, Simeon Saxe-Coburg.
The information was announced for Darik radio Thursday by the leadership of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) party, stating the Deputies have handed in their resignations early Monday morning. Simeon has then said he was the one who would decide to accept them or not.
It is expected the party's Political Council would convene by the end of the month to officially accept the resignations. The said resignations don't involve the members of the Council, but some of them, like the Member of the European Parliament-elect, Antoniya Parvanova, already confirmed they were prepared to withdraw from the party leadership.
On Monday, Milen Velchev, Iliya Lingorski, Marina Dikova, Mincho Spasov, and Ogniyan Gerdzhikov have announced to their leader Simeon Saxe-Coburg that they were handing in resignations.
Also on Monday Simeon resigned as party Chair in the aftermath of the crushing for NMSP election results.
It is expected that an emergency NMSP Congress in the fall will select the new NMSP leadership.
Bulgaria MEP Parvanova Resigns from Tsar's Party Leadership
Elections 2009
The newly elected MEP from NMSP party, Antoniya Parvanova, officially resigned Thursday her position as member of the party's Political Council.
In an open letter to the public, the members and supporters of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP), and the media, Parvanova appeals to the entire party leadership to immediately resign, to conduct municipal meetings to nominate the delegates to an emergency NMSP Congress, and to make changes in the party code.
According to Parvanova the party lost the voters' trust and hit political bottom over the betrayal of the NMSP expectations for change, the personal political ambitions prevailing over public interest and the compromises made with the other two parties from the Coalition - the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).
Parvanova stresses that the example of the party leader, former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg was the only moral and dignified way to behave. Simeon resigned as party Chair Monday in the aftermath of the crushing for NMSP election results.
In her letter Parvanova says that Saxe-Coburg is not the only person to bear the political responsibility, but the guilt belongs to the entire leadership.
On June 7 Parvanova was elected Member of the European Parliament (MEP) on the NMSP ticket, a position she intends on keeping.
Tsar's Ministers to Boycott Decisions of Outgoing Bulgaria Govt
Elections 2009
The NMSP Ministers in the current government have stated that they will boycott any decision the tri-partite coalition takes on financial or state employee appointments.
National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) ministers, Nikolay Vasilev, Daniel Vulchev and Gergana Passy, stated that it is not fair for the current government to make vital decisions on financial affairs or on appointing new state employees after they have been vote out of office.
They added that decisions should only be made on important current affairs by the tri-partite coalition as they had no right to make "un-democratic" decisions on other issues.
This announcement comes after Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg resigned as leader of NMSP on Monday after the party failed to get past the 4% threshold to enter the next parliament - they received 3,5% of the vote in Bulgaria's general elections.
Former Wrestler Scores a Big Takedown in Bulgaria PM Race
Views on BG
By Andrew MacDowall
The Christian Science Monitor
Boyko Borisov, the no-nonsense mayor of Sofia, must now grapple with Bulgaria's economic woes and corruption.
Wrestler, karate coach, bodyguard, top cop, mayor of Sofia, and now prime minister. Boyko Borisov will have one of the more eclectic resumes among European heads of government when he becomes Bulgarian premier in the wake of his overwhelming election victory Sunday.
Mr. Borisov's Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB, which translates as "coat of arms") won a reported 40 percent of the vote, trouncing the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) of Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, which scored 18 percent.
GERB is forecast to send 116 deputies to the 240-seat parliament, just short of a majority. It is expected to form a government with the Blue Coalition, a descendant of the right-of-center movement that governed between 1997 and 2001, and took nearly 7 percent of the vote, giving it a projected 15 seats. The scale of GERB's victory was unexpected - it had polled less than 25 percent in the European elections last month.
Borisov will now have to tackle the problems that contributed to the defeat of Mr. Stanishev's three-party administration, including corruption, unchecked organized crime, suspended funding from the European Union, and Bulgaria's controversial but vital role in European energy security. Add to this an economy expected to contract by 2 percent this year and concerns about ethnic tensions, and there is a substantial in-box awaiting the triumphant mayor.
Fiery rhetoric, but pro-business
Borisov, who was bodyguard to Communist leader Todor Zhivkov and former king and prime minister Simeon II, has built his reputation as a straight-talking man of action who takes on an entrenched political elite.
His statements have occasionally suggested that he is more maverick populist than reformer; he has been quoted as referring to Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish and Roma minorities, as well as pensioners, as "bad material," and has accused the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), a junior partner in Stanishev's coalition, which is largely supported by Turks, of stoking fears of terrorism.
Though these comments have been manipulated by his opponents, he has openly compared the Socialists to "the children of Hitler, Göring, and Göbbels," due to their links to the Communist regime.
But this image has clearly reaped political rewards, with Bulgarians opting for the burly and charismatic Borisov after a string of prime ministers whose smooth air of professionalism failed to secure any a second term.
Investors are also likely to give GERB the benefit of the doubt, despite its somewhat threadbare policy platform.
The expectation is that Borisov will surround himself with a cabinet of technocrats, fulfilling GERB's claims to being a center-right party with a pro-business agenda, according to Ivan Krastev, a political analyst. As evidence, he points to Simeon Dyankov, formerly a senior economist at the World Bank, who is tipped to become Finance Minister.
"GERB's policy prescriptions could have been more detailed, but Dyankov is well aware of reforms made in other countries," says Svetla Kostadinova, executive director of the Sofia-based Institute for Market Economics. "If he's appointed, we should see the quick implementation of changes that are quite vital for Bulgaria."
A crossroads of energy and graft
The incoming government must also address Bulgaria's opaque public finances and "reassure our European partners that corruption will no longer be such a big issue" in order to release more than half a billion euros from Brussels. Those funds have been frozen over the past two years amid accusations of graft and a failure to address organized crime in the Balkan country, Ms. Kostadinova adds.
It is far from obvious what concrete measures can and will be made to root out these problems, but Borisov has clearly staked his reputation on doing so.
Perhaps even more important from a European perspective will be the new government's approach to energy policy. A gas crisis in January, when Moscow shut off pipelines to Ukraine, temporarily cutting supply to Bulgaria, cruelly highlighted the country's overreliance on Russian fuel.
Bulgaria lies on the route of both Gazprom's South Stream gas pipeline and the proposed Nabucco project, an EU and US-backed line intended to diversify the continent's supply away from the Russian monopolist. The outgoing government defied expert opinion by claiming that the two schemes were not mutually exclusive; its successor may have to make a hard choice one way or the other.
Unusual as Barisov's background may be, Bulgarians and the international community alike will be hoping that their new leader can reinvigorate the drawn-out process of reform and European normalization that began with the fall of Communism almost 20 years ago.
Bulgaria Likely New PM Plans to Form Govt without Allies - Report
Elections 2009
Boyko Borisov, leader of the formerly opposition GERB party that won by far the most seats in Bulgarian parliamentary elections, but not an outright majority, has not ruled out forming a government without any coalition partners, sources say.
The conservative center-right GERB claimed 116 MP seats in Sunday's vote, shattering Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev's Socialist Party and falling just five seats short of holding a majority in the 240-seat unicameral parliament, which makes it easy for it to enter a wide range of informal alliances.
The approval of the Blue coalition, which was widely believed to be GERB coalition partner, for the newly born government will be sought only after the ministers are picked, Borisov said earlier in the week.
Nevertheless negotiations between GERB and Blue coalition representatives were given the go-ahead on Wednesday, but the parties' leaders kept their silence on the progress they have made, just hinting that experts linked to the right-wing coalition may take over the Social and Justice Ministries.
Meanwhile it emerged that the nationalist Ataka party has declared their support for GERB government, an approval that Borisov hailed as "a praiseworthy decision".
The next government is expected to bring in Western-educated economists and reformists to fulfil a pledge to revive the economy and clamp down on chronic corruption.
The new government is expected to be put to the vote in parliament between July 20-25.
Should Borisov stick to his plan for a government without coalition partners and receive the approval of the majority of MPs, this will be the second minority government after the cabinet, headed by Filip Dimitrov (1991-1992).
Some of the names of candidates for key ministers in the next cabinet have already been officially announced or have surfaced in the local media.
These are Simeon Dyankov, 38, chief economist for finance and private sector at the World Bank (Finance Minister), Biser Boev, former chief executive of Economedia, Bulgaria's leading business media (Economy Minister), Nikolay Mladenov (former member of the European Parliament in 2007-2009 on the ticket of GERB party) and Tsvetan Tsvetanov, chairman of GERB (Interior Minister).
Bulgarian Corruption-Tainted Deputy Minister Offered Job as MP, Magistrate
Elections 2009
Bulgaria's Deputy Disaster Management Minister, who has had one of the most dashing and scandalous careers in the recent history of the country, is facing a hard dilemma.
Delyan Peevski, son of controversial media mogul and former lottery head Irena Krasteva, has to decide whether to enter Bulgaria's parliament after his successful performance in the general elections on July 5 or don the robe of an investigative magistrate.
This became clear after the Central Electoral Commission announced the final list of the elected MPs, featuring Peevski, just as the Supreme Judicial Council restored him to his post at Sofia investigative service.
Under local legislation magistrates' posts can be kept if they declare that they are temporarily leaving the system.
At the end of November 2007 Bulgarian prime minister Sergey Stanishev reinstated Delyan Peevski as deputy minister in the disaster management ministry, nearly seven months after he was sacked on suspicion of malfeasance in office.
Peevski, 29, was dismissed from the cabinet in May the same year amidst the large-scale corruption scandal that led also to the suspension of economy minister Rumen Ovcharov.
Although a founding member of the youth wing of ex-king Simeon Saxe-Coburg's NMSP party, he was appointed deputy minister on the quota of the ethnic Turk Movement for Rights and Freedoms, reaching the peak of one of the most dashing careers in recent Bulgarian history.
But he was sacked when the head of Bulgaria's state-owned tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac, Hristo Lachev, accused him of attempting to influence managerial appointments within the company.
Lachev had also accused Peevski of extorting funds from the company, amounting up to BGN 150,000 a month, for "private purposes".
Peevski has been charged with malfeasance in office, but the trial against him was suspended in September.
The scandal, which spelled the end of Ovcharov's and Peevski's tenures with the current cabinet, also took the head of Peevski's former superior, the head of the investigative service Anguel Alexandrov, who was accused of allegedly lobbying for deals with the State Reserve, which was headed by Peevski.
Bulgaria PM-To-Be: Central Bank Governor Out in Six Months
Elections 2009
Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria's likely new premier after his centre-right GERB party's electoral victory, has confirmed expectations that the central bank governor, reelected in a highly controversial parliamentary vote just before the elections, will be ousted.
"For me the term of BNB governor Ivan Iskrov expires in six months," Borisov said on Wednesday.
The reelection of Ivan Iskrov, member of the centrist party of Simeon Saxe-Coburg, at the end of May was believed to be a trump card for pressing the formation into making a number of concessions in the sharing out of key posts in the state among members of the ruling coalition.
This scenario failed after the ruling Socialist-led coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the general elections on July 5, while the centrist party of Saxe-Coburg even did not manage to make it to the next parliament.
Bulgaria Likely New PM to Invite At Least 2 World Bank Experts
Elections 2009
Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria's likely new premier after his centre-right GERB party's electoral victory, is expected to invite at least two World Bank experts to be ministers in the country's next government.
Simeon Dyankov, chief economist for finance and the private sector at the World Bank, will almost certainly be appointed as finance minister in the next government. Boyko Borisov himself said on Monday that he would seek the World Bank economist for this post.
The name of yet another World Bank analyst surfaced in the local media on Wednesday - Adriana Damianova, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank. She has been tipped to take over the Environmental Ministry, which has been so far in the hands of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms.
Damianova is well known among the experts in Bulgaria through her work in a project for a USD 50 M loan in support of the environment and privatization.
Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group, is expected to enter the government at a later stage and become Deputy Prime Minister.
Borissov has announced plans to cut down the bloated administration to save on government expenses in this time of crisis. He said he will cull the ministry for emergency situations, the European affairs minister and the post of deputy prime minister in charge of European funds.
The approval of the Blue coalition, which was widely believed to be GERB coalition partner, will be sought only after the ministers are picked.
New Faces Loom Large in Bulgaria Next Govt - Report
Elections 2009
The first reports of the lineup of the draft government to be formed by the center-right GERB party, which won by a wide margin the general elections on July 5, have surfaced in the local media.
Bulgaria's next cabinet will consist of fifteen ministers, most of whom will make their debuts in such a high office, 24 Hours daily reported.
According to the report prime minister-elect Boyko Borisov will nominate his right-hand aide and GERB formal leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov for Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister.
Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group, is expected to enter the government at a later stage and become Deputy Prime Minister.
Simeon Dyankov, chief economist for finance and the private sector at the World Bank, will almost certainly be appointed as finance minister in the next government. Boyko Borisov himself said on Monday that he would seek the World Bank economist for this post.
Yordanka Fandakova, currently deputy mayor in Sofia municipality, is likely to take over the Education Ministry, while the Director of Bulgaria's National History Museum, Bozhidar Dimitrov, is expected to become Minister of Culture.
Miroslav Naydenov, an agrarian advisor to GERB party, has been tipped as the country's next Agriculture Minister.
Rossen Plevneliev, director of a business park in the district of Mladost, is believed to take over the Regional Development Ministry.
Borisov is widely expected to nominate Rumiana Jeleva as Bulgaria's commissioner, but she is also believed to be one of the two candidates for the post of Foreign Minister, together with Nikolay Mladenov.
Borisov: Bulgaria Minister Names Discussed in Media Are not True
Elections 2009
The names that are being discussed in Bulgaria media as being the new Bulgarian ministers are not true.
This was Bulgarian Prime Minister-elect Boyko Borisov's official statement on the matter.
However, he did not provide any other names. On Monday, he only said that World Bank expert, Simeon Dyakov, might be the next Finance Minister of Bulgaria.
"The new Bulgarian government will be ready by the end of the next week", Borisov said.
He has also come out with criteria which the next Sofia Mayor, who will substitute him, must meet.
"It is important that the Mayor has financing and projects. In our case, the new mayor will have both. There will be a government which will deal with Sofia as its own capital, not by making crisis, and causing trouble", Borisov said.
He also thanked the President, Georgi Parvanov, for the kind words he said on Tuesday, and for the respect he paid to the elections winner, GERB, and asserted that the new parliament and the government will cooperate with the President.
Bulgaria New Finance Minister to Oust Central Bank Governor
Finance
A World Bank economist, who has been tipped as Bulgaria's next finance minister, has given indications that the central bank governor, reelected in a highly controversial parliamentary vote just before the elections, may be forced out of office.
"Ivan Iskrov re-election is illegal and such practices are unacceptable," Simeon Dyankov told the morning broadcast of the Bulgarian National TV channel.
Dyankov, a World Bank analyst and chief economic advisor to the new center-right GERB party, which won by a wide margin the general elections on July 5, stressed that there are many good experts in this sector in Bulgaria, hinting at Iskrov's imminent replacement.
Iskrov reelection at the end of May was believed to be a trump card for pressing the party of Simeon Saxe-Coburg into making a number of concessions in the sharing out of key posts in the state among members of the ruling coalition.
This scenario failed after the ruling Socialist-led coalition suffered a crushing defeat in the general elections on July 5, while the centrist party of Saxe-Coburg, whose member Iskrov is, even did not manage to make it to the next parliament.
Bulgaria's prime minister-elect, Boyko Borisov, said a day earlier he would seek Dyankov as his finance minister, after a sweeping election victory.
Dyankov said he has not yet discussed this with Borisov, but specified that the names of all the ministers in the next government will be known by the end of the week.
The economic program of Borisov's government is expected to seek to shore up the budget , which is sliding toward a deficit this year as unemployment rises, and hasten Bulgaria's entry into the exchange-rate mechanism that serves as prelude to adopting the euro.
Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest member, has already entered recession with its economy shrinking 5% from January to March and contracting 1.6% in the fourth quarter on a quarterly basis.
Bulgaria's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 3,5% in the first quarter of 2009 on an annual basis, the first time that the country's GDP marked a drop year-on-year since the financial and economic crisis in 1997.
Bulgaria currently operates in currency board regime and the lev is pegged to the euro.
Bulgarian Finance Minister Named
Views on BG
By JOE PARKINSON
The Wall Street Journal
Bulgaria's prime minister-elect, Boiko Borisov, said he would seek a World Bank economist as his finance minister, after a sweeping election victory.
Mr. Borisov's center-right party won 39.7% of the vote, official results showed Monday, with 99.88% of ballots counted. That was more than twice as many as the incumbent Socialists, allowing Mr. Borisov to form a coalition with the small, market-oriented Blue Coalition.
"Simeon Djankov will be my finance minister," Mr. Borisov said, as he toured a 4 million extension to the metro system here. Mr. Borisov is the mayor of Sofia, the capital city.
Mr. Djankov, chief economist for finance and the private sector at the World Bank, created its Doing Business survey, which ranks the business friendliness of economies around the world. His appointment would help to reassure foreign investors worried about a relatively untested politician taking over.
Mr. Djankov recently indicated he would face a tough choice if offered a cabinet post in Sofia. His wife, Caroline Freund, also a World Bank economist, is considering an advisory role with the Obama administration's economic team. Mr. Djankov couldn't be reached to comment on Monday. A spokesman for the World Bank declined to comment.
Mr. Borisov said he expected his party's margin of victory to make governing easier. "A strong government will help us to make tough decisions ... but we also want to build more highways, trains and infrastructure," Mr. Borisov said.
A former national karate team coach and private-security firm executive, Mr. Borisov at the same time reiterated his promise to slash public spending.
He declined to discuss the specifics of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which he pledged would begin "immediately" once he took office.
Mr. Borisov's economic program seeks to shore up the budget , which is sliding toward a deficit this year as unemployment rises, and hasten Bulgaria's entry into the exchange-rate mechanism that serves as prelude to adopting the euro.
Bulgaria, the European Union's poorest member, relied on foreign funding for a quarter of its gross domestic product last year. The Balkan nation's GDP declined 3.5% on the year through March, after expanding by 7% last year.
Many of Bulgaria's neighbors, including Romania, have turned to the IMF. Bulgaria's currency board, which ties its currency, the lev, to the euro, requires a tight fiscal policy.
"Appointing Djankov as finance minister will be viewed as another positive step by the markets, but the key is to actually see what happens next," said Dmitry Gourov, a Vienna-based economist with Unicredit.
Election Victory of Ex-Karate Coach Brings Strongman Tactics to Bulgaria
Views on BG
By Roger Boyes
The Times
The Age of the Strong Man has arrived. Israel has a former club bouncer, Avigdor Lieberman, as Foreign Minister; Russia still has a KGB-trained judo player as premier and now Bulgaria has the former coach of the national karate team as its putative leader.
The straight-talking bull-necked Mayor of Sofia, Boyko Borisov, has emerged as the clear winner of the Bulgarian general election with more than 39 per cent of the vote. The ruling Socialists - closely identified with the corruption of the political class - have been beaten into second place with less than 18 per cent.
Why should voters turn, in the middle of Bulgaria's worst economic crisis since the collapse of communism, to a man whose primary professional experience was as a bodyguard? Why not vote for someone with financial expertise and a smooth statesman-like manner?
There is nothing smooth about Mr Borisov. Now 50, he was a fireman during the communist era and after 1991 used his contacts in the interior ministry and the karate club scene to build up a private security company. His business specialised in debt collection, armoured cars and guarding the rich. One of his clients was the disgraced communist chief Todor Zhivkov.
Mr Borisov entered politics after serving Simeon Saxe-Coburg of Bulgaria, the former King who returned from exile in 2001. Simeon became Prime Minister and Mr Borisov rose to become Deputy Interior Minister in charge of combating organised crime.
Not exactly the biography of a pinstriped crisis manager. Yet the Bulgarian economy is in deep trouble and demands urgent attention. Its current account deficit is, at 24 per cent, worse than any of the ailing Baltic states. Its industrial production has plunged, its GDP per capita is now half that of the Czech Republic. Unemployment is rising fast.
The Bulgarians, though, seem to have worked out that crisis survival on the margins of Europe requires a multiplicity of skills. Mr Borisov seems ready to turn to the International Monetary Fund for help. That step - embraced already by troubled Latvia and Hungary, both of whom have accepted IMF loans - was resisted by the outgoing Socialists.
Once the IMF team has come in, the runing of the economy will be left to technocrats who will try to meet the tough targets. And it will be up to politicians such as Mr Borisov to persuade the country that they have to put up with more belt-tightening not only to bring the economy back into balance but also to modernise society.
Mr Borisov's task is thus to make economic sacrifice credible at a time when the political class has lost most of its credibility. Perhaps the most absurd, and the most upsetting, element of the last election was the way that half a dozen criminal suspects - accused of offences ranging from embezzlement to people-trafficking - were allowed to stand for election; candidates are given immunity from prosecution. First results suggest that none of these candidates won seats but the effect was to drag down the reputation of parliamentary politics.
The new Prime Minister will thus concentrate fully on fighting corruption. There is plenty to do. On the Transparency International index Bulgaria is the most corrupt of all European Union states. Its bureaucracy led the EU to freeze €1.1 billion (£950 million) of development funding. During the election, independent monitors reported widespread vote-buying.
Corruption, in short, has become not a marginal issue, a trivial side-show to the vast ballooning crisis. As the brilliant Ivan Krastev (head of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia) has pointed out, corruption has become a central problem in the transition economies of eastern Europe. "They are now perceived as more corrupt than the old communist regimes," Mr Krastev says.
The result: the political class is not regarded as being capable of dealing with the crisis. Rather it is viewed as a protector of vested criminal interests.
As long as that is the case, the societies on the fringe of the European Union - just in such as Bulgaria, or just out such as Ukraine - will occupy a kind of limbo-zone, sapping the credibility of the Union as a whole. It is a recipe for instability along the whole stretch of the EU borderlands.
So perhaps the Bulgarian voters have made the right choice; perhaps the time has really come for strongmen, for democracy with muscle. Let's hope they don't forget the democracy bit.
Bulgarian Stress Test for the Balkans
Views on BG
The Daily Telegraph
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
The Baltic trio of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are lucky. At the end of the day, they can count on Swedish banks and the full might of the Swedish state to shield them from economic disaster.
The picture is messier in the Balkans, a region with eight times the population (55m) and no obvious Big Brother at hand, and messiest of all is Bulgaria where Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov inherits what he calls "the complete collapse of the country" after crushing the ruling socialists in elections over the weekend.
The former karate coach, who learned his politics as body-guard to Communist boss Todor Zhivkov and premier Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (ex child-king), has vowed to extirpate the local mafia and to stop the budget deficit "blowing up".
Like Latvia, Bulgaria has pegged its currency to the euro, with equally grim results. Monetary policy was too loose earlier this decade for the needs of a fast-growing catch-up economy.
The current account deficit reached 25pc of GDP in 2008, the highest of the 80 emerging markets around the world tracked by Fitch Ratings. Gross external debt reached 102pc. The property boom was out of control. If Latvia is any guide - fifteen months ahead of Bulgaria in the cycle - prices could fall 50pc.
"The macro-situation in Bulgaria is dire," said Lars Christensen, emerging markets chief at Danske Bank.
"Foreign investment has plummeted. The downturn in the economy accelerated in May and June. While the new government is an improvement, I would not rule out a drop in GDP of 15 to 20pc from peak to trough," he said.
"My concern is that this is going to spill over into other countries. If you look at the main lenders, they are Greece, Hungary (OTP bank), and Italy."
The Greek central bank has already told lenders - chiefly the National Bank of Greece, EFG Eurobank, Alpha, and Pireaus - not to divert any of Greece's €28bn rescue package to Balkan subsidiaries on grounds of "credit risk".
This breaches an EU-wide accord for banks to stand by subsidiaries in Eastern Europe, but Athens may have little choice as its own economy wilts.
The great fear earlier this year was that a devaluation by Latvia would set off a chain reaction as pegs snapped across the region, with risk of contagion into the eurozone itself through the Achilles heels of Greece and Austria. West European banks have lent EUR 1,7 trillion to the ex-Communist bloc.
The G20 deal in April to triple the fire-fighting fund of the International Monetary Fund to USD 750 B has bought time, while the Spring recovery has made it easier for East Europeans to roll over foreign debt. But the core issue has not been resolved.
The IMF usually demands that deficit countries devalue as a condition for any bail-out so that they can export their way back to health. This time the EU has insisted on fixed-peg orthodoxy.
Neil Shearing from Capital Economics said there are hopeful signs that the deflation cure could ultimately succeed. "Latvians are accepting 20pc wage cuts. It is painful but the adjustment is starting to work. There are obvious risks, but we don't think there will be an Asian-style crisis in Eastern Europe," he said.
Yet pessimists abound. Hans Redeker, currency chief at BNP Paribas, said these countries are being sentenced to gruelling deflation. "We could see unemployment reach 20pc or higher in Bulgaria. It is going to lead to social instability," he said.
The risks vary by country. Romania is a fiscal mess, but it has more room for maouvre with a floating currency. It has already secured a USD 26 B IMF lifeline.
Samir Patel from Research2 said Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Bosnia will all need a "continuous flow of rescue capital" to prop up their systems. "If the Baltics are a bad dream for Sweden, the Balkans could become a nightmare for Greece, Italy and Austria. Southern Europe is quite literally at risk of economic seizure," he said.
Mr Patir said fixed-pegs had trapped countries in a "tangled financial web". "West Balkan currencies cannot possibly withstand what is unfolding. As happened in Argentina, we expect that euro loans will be converted to local currencies, giving an immediate write-down shock to those who have extended credit."
Bulgaria PM-To-Be Picks Word Bank Analyst for Finance Minister
Elections 2009
Simeon Dyankov, a World Bank analyst and chief economic advisor to the new center-right GERB party, which won by a wide margin the general elections on July 5, will be named Bulgaria's next finance minister.
"Yes, the finance minister in my government will be called Simeon Dyankov and this is the first time I am telling this to anyone," Boyko Borisov, GERB leader and future prime minister of Bulgaria, told a Dow Jones reporter, while he was inspecting Sofia subway.
Borisov, Sofia mayor, leader of the winner in the general elections GERB party and already self-proclaimed prime minister of Bulgaria, said he already knows the line-up of the next government, but refused to disclose other names.
On the election night Simeon Dyankov was seen ever present by the side of Borisov.
Bulgarian Migrants in Germany Backed Center-Right Opposition
Elections 2009
The centre-right opposition GERB party and the right-wing Blue coalition dominated Bulgarian parliamentary elections in Germany, results show.
A total of 2521 Bulgarian migrants in Germany cast a ballot for the party of Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov, showed the final results from the vote in the ten polling stations, opened across the country, which were announced by the Bulgarian Embassy in Berlin in a statememt, circulated to the media.
Another 1639 voters backed the right-wing coalition, bringing together the Union of Democratic Forces and the die-hard right-wingers from Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, who are credited with throwing out the ex-communists who had pushed the country to the brink of financial crisis in the 90s.
Third ranked the left-wing Coalition for Bulgaria (371 votes), followed by the nationalist Ataka (352 votes) and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (318 ballots).
The Greens political party also staged an impressing performance in the poll and received 283 votes, taking a lead ahead of the centrist party of Simeon Saxe-Coburg, which tallied the votes of 242 Bulgarian nationals in Germany.
The biggest number of votes in support of GERB party and the Blue coalition were cast in the cities of Bonn, Munich and Frankfurt primarily by Bulgarian students in the western provinces.
Even though their request for the opening of additional polling stations outside diplomatic and consular missions was turned down, they mobilized their ranks and voted by large numbers in the general elections.
WHO Is WHO: Simeon Saxe-Coburg
Elections 2009
Simeon Saxe-Coburg was born on June 16, 1937, in Sofia as the first-born son of Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria and Queen Giovanna.
Simeon's birth was celebrated all over Bulgaria with the ringing of church bells and cannon salutes. On the occasion of the happy event the royal couple granted amnesty to many prisoners, while schoolchildren were given an additional mark to their scores.
A few weeks later the crown prince was baptized with water brought specially form the Jordan River. The water was transported by a Bulgarian military pilot.
Simeon II ascended to the throne on 28 August 1943 at the age of 6, after the sudden death of his father, Tsar Boris III. He became the fourth Tsar ("Emperor") of the Third Bulgarian state.
Regency was appointed to rule Bulgaria on his behalf. After the communist-dominated Fatherland Front committed a coup d'etat on September 9 1944, Simeon II remained on the throne but the regents including his uncle Prince Kiril, and many of the country's intellectuals were executed.
Two years later, in 1946, following a referendum in which over 92% of the Bulgarians opted for republican government (there are allegations the results were forged with the aid of the Soviet Union), the minor Tsar Simeon, his sister Princess Maria Louise and Queen Giovanna were forced to leave Bulgaria, facing long years of exile.
The royal family first went to Alexandria, Egypt. Their choice of Egypt was not random. There, also in exile, lived Queen Giovanna's father Victor Emanuel, King of Italy. In Egypt, Simeon enrolled in the famous Victoria College.
In July 1951, the Spanish government of Francisco Franco granted asylum to the exiled Bulgarian royal family. In Madrid, Simeon Saxe-Coburg graduated from the Lyc?e Fran?ais, and studied law and political science.
On June 16, 1955, upon turning 18, in accordance with Bulgaria's repealed Tarnovo Constitution, Simeon II read his proclamation to the Bulgarian people as the Tsar of Bulgaria, confirming his will to be the Tsar of all Bulgarians and follow the principles of Tarnovo Constitution and free Bulgaria.
In 1958 - 1959, he studied at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in the United States where he was known as "Cadet Rylski No. 6883". He graduated as a second lieutenant. Once again in Spain, Simeon studied law and business administration.
In 1962, Simeon Saxe-Coburg married a Spanish aristocrat, Dona Margarita Gomez-Acebo y Cejuela and they have five children - four sons - Kardam (born 1962), Kiril (1964), Kubrat (1965), Konstantin-Assen (1967) - and a daughter - Kalina (1972).
Saxe-Coburg's official biography on the website of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers in 2001-2005 when he was the Prime Minister of Bulgaria lacked detailed information on what he did between 1962 and 1996. According to various sources, during this period he was a businessman, and the chairman of the Spanish subsidiary of Thomson, a French defense and electronics group for 13 years. He was also a consultant in the banking, hotel, electronics, and catering sectors.
Saxe-Coburg issued several political declarations during his exile through his "chancellery" in Madrid directed at the Communist regime in Bulgaria and his exiled compatriots but he did not set up a Bulgarian government in exile.
In May 1996, Saxe-Coburg visited Bulgaria for the first time after almost 50 years in exile.
He returned again to Bulgaria at the beginning of 2001 with the intention to settle there permanently. On April 6, 2001, in a very famous public statement Saxe-Coburg stated his intention to participate actively in the political life of the country by founding and leading a political movement that could improve Bulgaria's situation in a period of 800 days.
His enormous popularity and promises led his newly founded political movement called National Movement "Simeon the Second" to win the June 2001 Parliamentary Elections in a landslide.
The NMSS received 43% of the popular vote and 120 MP seats in the 240-seat Parliament. The NMSS formed a government in coalition with the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).
Thus, Saxe-Coburg became the first former monarch in world history to become a Prime Minister under a republican constitution. The NMSS party was formally founded in April 2002 by 900 delegates in Sofia.
In March 2004, 11 MPs left the party to form a new parliamentary group and later a new party called "The New Time," marking the beginning of the NMSS splits.
The Saxe-Coburg government presided over Bulgaria's accession to NATO in May 2004. In April 2005, PM Saxe-Coburg formally signed Bulgaria's EU Accession Treaty.
The NMSS party initially declared itself a conservative formation, and applied for membership with the European People's Party (EPP). After the rejection of the application over the opposition of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), already an EPP member from Bulgaria, the NMSS steered towards the center, turning into a liberal and centrist formation, to become a full member of the Liberal International during its Sofia Congress in May 2005.
In June 2005, the NMSS came in second in the Parliamentary Elections losing more than half of its votes. It got 19,9% (725 314 votes), and 51 MPs.
During the election campaign, the NMSS repeatedly said it would not enter in coalition with the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). After BSP failed to set up a Cabinet, the President offered the mandate to the NMSS, leading to a second unsuccessful attempt to create a new government. Finally, with the mandate of the third largest parliamentary group, the DPS, and after two-month long negotiations, the BSP, the NMSS, and the DPS formed a government of the so called three-way coalition. The BSP leader Sergey Stanishev became Prime Minister, and the BSP got 8 Ministers, the NMSS - 5 Ministers, and the DPS - 3 Ministers.
Saxe-Coburg, together with Stanishev and DPS leader Ahmed Dogan, became part of the so called "Governing Coalition Council", a meeting of the three party leaders that is not formally a state institution but de facto played such a role in determining policies then to be implemented by the Stanishev Cabinet.
On January 1, 2007, the three-way coalition government presided over Bulgaria's accession to the EU.
During the June 3, 2007 Party Congress, the NMSS split in two main fractions. The faction around Plamen Panayotov (the so-called "lawyers' lobby"), accused their colleagues (the so called "yuppies' lobby"), who were backing Milen Velchev, of manipulating the intra-party vote.
Several months later, 17 MPs (of the lawyers' lobby) left the party; 4 were expelled by the leader, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, and the rest left at their own will. They later formed the "Bulgarian New Democracy" (BND) parliamentary group, and a party with the same name.
The NMSS party congress on June 3, 2007 changed the party's name to National Movement for Stability and Progress (NMSP), placing the words for "stability and progress" to fit the Bulgarian acronym for "Simeon the Second". Thus, in Bulgarian, the acronym of the party - NDSV - did not change.
Just two years after Simeon's return, in 1998 the Constitutional Court made the decision to give back his family's estates. Yet, the topic of the so-called "Tsar properties" continues to be largely discusses and remains very controversial in Bulgaria's public and political life, including the latest saga surrounding the Krichim palace. Critics claim that Saxe-Coburg used his position as a Prime Minister, and later as one of the governing coalition leaders to receive ownership of estates that never technically belonged to the Bulgarian royal family before 1944.
In the last three years, Saxe-Coburg saw his party's ratings slum by over 10% the most serious decrease among the other ruling coalition parties, BSP and DPS.
In a series of interviews, the former Tsar and former PM has stated his doubt in the reliability of the pre-election polls and declared that the NMSP project was far from being over and to say that the party was extinct was the same as talking about the end of history, ideologies, the end of the world.
In addition to Bulgarian, Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha is fluent in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
By a decree of the President of the Republic, issued in 15 June 2007, Simeon Saxe-Coburg was awarded the Stara Planina Order, the highest State distinction in Bulgaria.
Simeon II is also the holder of the highest Spanish order Karl III, the Grand Officer of the French L?gion d'Honneur, the Belgian Grand Cross of Leopold III, the Islamic Grand Cross of the Independence of Jordan, the Greek Order of the Redeemer, the Grand Cross of the Holy Land from the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Grand Cross of the Order of Malta, the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Grand Order of Honor and Piety, as well as a collection of the highest distinctions from a range of European dynastical orders.
VIEWS
Saxe-Coburg is known for his unique style of being somewhat thrifty in his words, public statements, and interviews. While his party, NMSS (NMSP) initially tried to define itself as a conservative political formation, it later adopted a centrist-liberal ideology subsequently projected by its leader in his policies and statements.
PUBLIC SERVICE RECORD
June 2001-June 2005 - Prime Minister of Bulgaria
June 2005-2009 - part of the so called Governing Coalition Council together with PM Stanishev and DPS leader Dogan - formally not a government body but an informal structure practically setting up the government's agenda
ELECTORAL PERFORMANCE
In June 2001, thank to the enormous popularity of its leader Saxe-Coburg, the NMSP (called NMSS at the time) won overwhelmingly the Parliamentary Elections with 42,74% (1 953 000 votes), and got 120 seats in the 240-seat Parliament, one short of an absolute majority. This led Saxe-Coburg to become Prime Minister, and the first former monarch in the world to do so.
In June 2005, the NMSP (NMSS) came in second in the Parliamentary Elections losing more than half of its votes. It got 19,9% (725 314 votes), and 51 MPs.
In Bulgaria's first ever European Parliament Elections in May 2007, the NMSP party received 6,27% (121 000 votes), and got 1 MEP out of a total of 18 Bulgarian MEPs.
Bulgaria Former Tsar, PM Saxe-Coburg Resigns as Party Leader
Elections 2009
Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, is resigning as leader of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity.
The news was announced by Simeon Saxe-Coburg himself during a Monday press conference dedicated to the NMSP poor performance at Bulgaria's general elections Sunday.
The NMSP leader further told reporters that he would be making the decision about the resignation of the entire party leadership.
"No one is irreplaceable or eternal," Simeon said, adding the choice of his successor would be made at a party Congress to be convened as soon as possible.
Simeon extended congratulations to the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party over their convincing election victory and expressed hope the new cabinet was going to be quickly appointed.
The National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) of the former Tsar and former Prime Minister has been part of the country's rule since 2001 but failed to make Sunday the 4% threshold with a disappointing result of 3,5%.
During his first official statement after the polls across the country closed Sunday evening , Simeon Saxe-Coburg, vowed to remain in Bulgaria despite his party's disappointing performance at the general elections.
"I spend 50 years in exile; can you imagine me leaving now? Please, I have been born on this land. So many years abroad, chased away from the motherland after an illegal referendum and leave now? Because you think I am offended? No, please, no such thing," Simeon told reporters Sunday.
The NMSP leader admitted he did not expect such disheartening loss and said poor results and mistakes, including his own, would be analyzed, but this was not the moment to make grave conclusions.
Bulgaria Political Leaders Most Memorable Election Night Quotes
Elections 2009
The leaders of the 6 parties that made it to Bulgaria's 41st General Assembly addressed the media and the public through post-election press conferences that lasted into the wee hours of Monday morning.
The press conferences were held at the National Palace of Culture in downtown Sofia.
The party chairs and leadership appeared in order of the percentage of the vote they received during the Sunday general elections.
"I don't have the right not to lead Bulgaria's next government, but miracles are not to be expected in the next five or six months. And we haven't promised any. The total collapse of the three-way ruling coalition made me step into the prime minister office. This is the first time that Bulgarians vote for someone whom they know what he can and cannot do. Even if you are in love, you can fall out of love after ten years. Also, I will launch investigations into all shady deals of the government and the land swaps in particular. If we mislead the voters, we will get where Simeon Saxe-Coburg is now (i.e - a reference to the poor results of the former king and prime minister, who didn't make it to the next parliament - editors note) I want to thank those, who voted for us and assure those who did not that we will try to lead politics good for all Bulgarian people," Boyko Borisov, Sofia Mayor, leader of the winner in the general elections Citizens for European development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and future Prime Minister of Bulgaria.
"We accept with respect the choice of the Bulgarian voters. The results are a big ordeal, and a serious loss for the Socialist party and there are three major factors for this loss: the effects of the global economic crisis on Bulgaria, the "ethnic" card that was played, creating a sentiment against BSP's coalition partners DPS, of which BSP suffered and the GERB party stirring a public scare of the likelihood of new early elections in the fall. We achieved a number of successes and improved Bulgaria's situation compared to 2005, yet, this did not seem to be enough since Bulgarians want to measure up to the other EU states. I am concerned that a new rightist government of GERB and the Blue Coalition might privatize the energy and health care sectors, and cut down salaries and pensions. Bulgaria would not have been admitted to the EU if it hadn't been for the forming of the three-way coalition government in 2005;" Bulgaria's outgoing Prime Minister and leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Sergey Stanishev.
"DPS is showing a sustainable growth in public support. This is the best result in terms of the number of votes for his party in 15 years, or a 20% increase in its number of votes compared to European Parliament elections a month ago. Whoever is aiming at provoking tension, they should not try to act like a messiah, this is not going to happen. It would be very interesting for me, for example, to see Boyko Borisov as a Prime Minister; but not everything happens through the "command" principle, dear ladies and gentlemen. The ethnic card is played in dangerous proportions. I am asking the observers of NATO and the EU to monitor closely. I am not threatening anyone but what is going on right now threatens the foundation of democracy.... I want to tell our voters that we will never abandon them. Some missionaries and messiahs are not going to destroy the ethnic balance in the country", the leader of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Ahmed Dogan.
"Nationalism is no longer a taboo in Bulgaria after Sunday's Parliamentary Elections. A number of the other right-wing Bulgarian parties copied a lot of our party's nationalist slogans, showing the topic is becoming increasingly important. The ethnic Turkish party DPS and its leader Dogan are conducting an anti-Bulgarian policy. That was a disgraceful moment for the Bulgarian democracy - a drunken man (i.e. Ahmed Dogan - editor's note) stammering holding a press conference. We want to see GERB investigate the whole criminal clique of the DPS, which is connected to Turkey's secret services, the Turkish mafia, and to stop the advancing islamization. The sending of thousands of voters from Turkey and the whole campaign in favor of DPS has been paid for by the Turkish government. This is a brutal interference of the Turkish government in Bulgaria's internal affairs. The lisping man before my appearance (i.e. Ahmed Dogan - editor's note) has become absolutely impertinent by threatening us with some sort of dangers", the leader of the far-right nationalist "Ataka" party, Volen Siderov.
"The major news in Bulgaria now is that the change has arrived and the status quo has been replaced. Bulgarians demonstrated that they can no longer deal with the ethnic Turkish party and its leader, Ahmed Dogan, and the Bulgarian socialists. They did not go on vacation, they voted and gave their trust only to two political formations - the citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and the blue Coalition. Bulgaria is a new, better country today and the Blue Coalition is the golden key to the next government," Martin Dimitrov, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces party and Co-Chair of the opposition, rightist "Blue Coalition" between the two biggest right-wing parties, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) and the United Democratic Forces (UDF).
"The socialist Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, even tonight, in the wake of his defeat told untrue stories; he is friends with lies. The "Blues" would not bargain for any posts in the future Cabinet because the only thing we want is real change and big actions such as actualizing the budget, solution for the global crisis, and bringing an end to corruption," Ivan Kostov leader of DSB and Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition.
"We almost doubled our votes since the EU Elections a month ago. 5% of the Bulgarians voters supported us. We managed to defeat the Madrid scoundrel (meaning former Tsar and former PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg whose party NMSP got 2,9% and did not make it to the next Parliament - editor's note), and we managed to defeat the corporation of Kovachki (the LIDER party of energy tycoon Kovachki - editor's note), which has been supported by Dogan's DPS. The two top goals of RZS are to root out corruption and convene a Grand National Assembly in order to adopt a new Constitution. If Todor Zhivkov (Bulgaria's communist dictator - editor's note) was captured in his residence after 33 years in power, Ahmed Dogan (DPS leader - editor's note) is also going to be captured in his seraglios," the leader of the conservative RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") party, Yane Yanev
GENERAL Change for Bulgaria?
Editorial
We, Bulgarians, are a paradox: we are independent warriors, who are secretly terrified of being abandoned or making an irreversible mistake. When this fear strikes, we fall out of love with our rulers and start waiting for a new saviour. Waiting in vain.
The vow of Sofia mayor and prime minister-to-be General Boyko Borissov to crack down on corruption and "jail all those who have stolen European Union funds" appears to have struck a chord with voters. Yet it is also true that these elections told us more about what people hate rather than what they like.
It is this dissatisfaction with the ruling parties, fueled by a lot of black PR during their pre-election campaigns and slogans playing mainly on voters' emotions and fears, that made Bulgarians so enthusiastic about the center-right opposition in the general elections.
Elections, which held democracy itself at stake with amendments to the legislation, adopted just months ahead of the general vote, that aimed to secure the power of the ruling Socialist-led coalition and nearly killed all hopes for survival of the opposition.
The high turnout was the most obvious way, in which Bulgarians could give ruling politicians a bloody nose.
But Borisov's sweeping election victory inevitably evokes parallels with the shot to stardom of former king and prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg in 2001, who has been gradually falling out of grace with voters ever since, only to discover on Sunday that blue blood is no guarantee for political longevity in Bulgaria.
The differences are obvious, but the comparison speaks of Bulgarians' failure to guard against self-sabotage and their habit of getting a bout of Peter Pan syndrome, making a rash or immature move that they may later regret.
Borissov's supporters say he has already padded out his charm and popularity with real actions. His opponents fire back that he is a ready-made product, who offers new faces, but is short of ideas and expertise and has won people over only with his down-to-earth language and basking in the media spotlight.
Bulgaria's future, Brussels' trust and the revival of its economy, hit hard by the global crisis and suspended EU funds, all lie in the stability of the next center-right government, the most likely scenario being a coalition between GERB and the right-wing parties in the Blue coalition.
Both sides have said, however, they are not willing to make compromises.
Now it will all boil down to political wisdom and statesmanship.
Bulgaria's New Party Claims Victory in Poll
Views on BG
By Kerin Hope and Theodor Troev
Financial Times
Boyko Borissov, the populist mayor of Sofia, claimed victory last night in Bulgaria's general election.
Projections showed his new right-of-centre party would finish with about 41 per cent of the vote.
His Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (Gerb) was poised to capture 118-120 seats in the 240-member parliament, just short of an outright majority.
"We're happy with these results, it's like winning a football match by seven or eight goals to nil," Mr Borissov said in a television interview.
Mr Borissov said he would invite the Blue Coalition, a small right-of-centre party projected to win around 6.5 per cent of the vote and up to 16 seats, to help form a coalition government.
Ivan Kostov, a former prime minister, and leader of the Blue Coalition, said a partnership with Gerb would result in "a very stable, and strong, centre-right government to address the economic crisis and fight corruption".
With about 80 per cent of the vote counted, the governing Socialists trailed far behind Gerb with 17-18 per cent of the vote.
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, representing the country's ethnic Turkish minority, was in third place with 11-13 per cent.
Gerb's campaign, based on Mr Borissov's pledge to crack down on corruption and "jail all those who have embezzled European Union funds" appeared to have struck a chord with dissatisfied voters.
Bulgaria, the poorest EU member-state, has lost access to hundreds of millions of euros in EU funds because of the Socialist-led government's failure to crack down on corruption and organised crime.
The economy is poised to shrink more than 3 per cent this year after several years of strong growth. Unemployment is rising and foreign investment has slowed after the collapse of a holiday property bubble.
Gerb said during the campaign it would start talks with the International Monetary Fund if elected.
Mr Borissov, a former police officer and ex-coach of the national karate team, entered politics after serving as secretary-general of the interior ministry in the government of Simeon Saxe-Coburg, the country's former king, who oversaw the completion of EU accession negotiations.
Many of Mr Saxe-Coburg's former supporters appeared to have backed Gerb in the election. His party, the National Movement for Stability and Progress, was unlikely to exceed the 4 per cent needed to enter parliament.
Bulgaria Political Leaders Ranked by Facebook Fans during Elections 2009
Elections 2009
The popularity of the top Bulgarian politicians on Facebook differed from the results of Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections as of Sunday, July 5, 2009.
The most popular Bulgarian politician as ranked by the number of Facebook fans turned out to be Emil Koshlukov, leader of the Novoto Vreme ("New Time") political party, with 6 306 fans, as of July 5, 2009.
Novoto Vreme was a coalition partner of LIDER in the Parliamentary Elections but the coalition got 3,3% of the votes, and failing to make to the next Bulgarian Parliament.
The second most popular Bulgarian politician on Facebook was the Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition and DSB leader, Ivan Kostov. A former Bulgarian PM, Kostov had 5 088; a special group called "Ivan Kostov Premier" had 468 members.
The Sofia Mayor and GERB party leader, Boyko Borisov, had 1 631; a Facebook group called "Let's support Boyko Borisov and GERB" had 1 902 members.
At the same time, however, the man who is expected to become Bulgaria's next Prime Minister after the sweeping victory of GERB on Sunday appeared to have a Facebook opposition. A group called "Anti-Boyko Borisov" had 44 members, whereas another group called "I don't want Boyko Borisov for Prime Minister" had the staggering 3 126 members.
Next in Facebook popularity was the leader of the ethnic Turkish party DPS, Ahmed Dogan, with 1 211 fans. At the same time, however, a group called "Let's Send Ahmed Dogan into Retirement" has 3 276 members; another Facebook group called "No to the inference of Ahmed Dogan and DPS in the government of Bulgaria" has 3 006 members.
Bulgaria's outgoing Socialist Prime Minister, Sergey Stanishev, remained fifth with 993 Facebook fans. Yet, he faced similar Facebook opposition as Borisov and Dogan: an "Anti Sergey Stanishev" group had 1 110 members, another group called "I Want Stanishev in Jail" was with 85 members.
The other Co-Chair of the Blue Coalition, Martin Dimitrov, came next with 728 fans. He was followed by the leader of the conservative RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") party, Yane Yanev, with 452 fans, and 424 members of a group named after him.
The leader of Bulgaria's nationalist party "Ataka", Volen Siderov, had two groups named after him with 286 and 63 members respectively.
Finally, Bulgaria's former Tsar and former Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, leader of the NMSP party, had a group called "Simeon II, Tsar of the Bulgarians Appreciation Group" with 278 members.
RZS Leader: Unprecedented Turkish Intervention in Bulgaria Elections
Elections 2009
The leader of the conservative RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") party, Yane Yanev, has declared that Turkey's intervention in Bulgaria's internal affairs during Sunday's Parliamentary Elections was unprecedented.
During his post-election press conference, Yanev said his party had information about the involvement of the Turkish state and secret services in organizing an intervention in Bulgaria's affairs by supporting the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).
Yanev also announced that RZS had informed top EU politicians about this data, and that it would be presented during a special press conference on Wednesday.
"We almost doubled our votes since the EU Elections a month ago. 5% of the Bulgarians voters supported us. We managed to defeat the Madrid scoundrel (meaning former Tsar and former PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg whose party NMSP got 2,9% and did not make it to the next Parliament - editor's note), and we managed to defeat the corporation of Kovachki (the LIDER party of energy tycoon Kovachki - editor's note), which has been supported by Dogan's DPS", said Yanev.
He confirmed the two top goals of his party - rooting out corruption and convening a Grand National Assembly in order to adopt a new Constitution.
Yanev congratulated the winners from the GERB party, and said his RZS was mostly interested in legislative activities, and not in participating in the executive branch; still, it was going to be open for cooperation with GERB.
The RZS leader pointed out that between 700 000 and 1 000 000 voters in Sunday's elections were controlled in one way or another - through corporate and administrative measures, vote-buying, and criminal activities.
"If Todor Zhivkov (Bulgaria's communist dictator - editor's note) was captured in his residence after 33 years in power, Ahmed Dogan (DPS leader - editor's note) is also going to be captured in his seraglios", Yanev declared accusing Dogan of various violations.
According to the latest vote counting results, Yanev's party is going to have 9-10 MPs, thus being the smallest group in the new Bulgarian Parliament.
Bulgaria Blue Coalition: We Hold Golden Key to Next Cabinet
Elections 2009
The major news in Bulgaria now is that the change has arrived and the status quo has been replaced, Martin Dimitrov, leader of the Union of Democratic Forces party said in the wee hours Monday.
Dimitrov spoke during the post-election press conference of the opposition, rightist "Blue Coalition" between the two biggest right-wing parties, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) and the United Democratic Forces (UDF).
"Bulgarian demonstrated that they can no longer deal with the ethnic Turkish party and its leader, Ahmed Dogan, and the Bulgarian socialists. They did not go on vacation, they voted and gave their trust only to two political formations - the citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and the blue Coalition. Bulgaria is a new, better country today," Dimitrov said.
The UDF leader pointed out the huge responsibility before GERB, the landslide election winner, but pointed out that his Blue Coalition was the golden key to the next government because with just 20 parliamentary seats, they were the expert guarantee of the change.
Dimitrov defined three key points the new Cabinet would work on: actualizing the budget, securing EU funds for Bulgaria and the release of the frozen ones and fight against corruption.
The UDF leader further spoke about the huge expert potential of the Blue Coalition, adding it remained understated because they ran out of time due to the courtroom drama involving the UDF party registration.
The DSB leader, Ivan Kostov, also congratulated GERB and thanked the voters and for their victory because they helped a great deal Sunday to show a way out of the political crisis.
"The socialist Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev, even tonight, in the wake of his defeat told untrue stories; he is friends with lies," Kostov said.
The DSB leader reiterated the need to actualize the budget over the huge deficit the country was facing, adding the strong political will and competency could be found within the Blue Coalition.
Kostov further said the "Blues" would not bargain for any posts in the future Cabinet because the only thing they wanted was real change and big things such as solution for the global crisis, and end of corruption.
The UDF leader, Martin Dimitrov, also told reporters that the Blue Coalition was not going to blackmail GERB, but would work together with them to establish a real reformist society.
Dimitrov, prompted by a reporter, addressed the issue with the leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, Ahmed Dogan, and the need for him once and for all to comply with the law, but added eventual proceedings against Dogan did not have anything to do with ethnic hate and Bulgaria's Muslims.
Both Blue Coalition Chairs vouched for the soundness of the Coalition's economic program and its strong expertise.
Ivan Kostov blamed PM Stanishev for refusing to debate economic issues with them but undermining their economic program.
The DSP leader also said he never supported the outgoing National Movement for Stability and Progress of former Tsar and PM, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, because that would mean to support Dogan and his blackmail of the Bulgarian society.
"Dogan keeps Bulgaria's ethnic Turks in the ghetto and gets votes in exchange," Kostov said.
The UDF leader further compared Simeon Saxe-Coburg to his father Boris and grand-father Ferdinand and their long-running history of dismantling political parties, forming docile cabinets and eroding democracy in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria PM-To-Be Borisov: I Will Bring the Guilty to Justice
Elections 2009
Boyko Borisov, Sofia mayor, leader of the winner in the general elections GERB and already self-proclaimed prime minister of Bulgaria, embarked on his voyage for the higher office with the promise that Bulgaria is a different country and the guilty will be brought to justice.
"I don't have the right not to lead Bulgaria's next government," Boyko Borisov said at his first press conference after the vote, warning, however that no miracles are to be expected in the next half a year.
"No miracles should be expected to occur in the next five or six months. And we haven't promised any," Borisov told reporters at the press center of the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
"This is the first time that Bulgarians vote for someone whom they know what he can and cannot do. Even if you are in love, you can fall out of love for ten years," Borisov said, referring to his time in office as Interior Ministry Chief Secretary and Sofia mayor.
Asked about his promise to enter the office of the prime minister only in case of emergency, Borisov said:
"The total collapse of the three-way ruling coalition made me step into the prime minister office."
Borisov vowed to launch investigations into all shady deals of the government and the land swaps in particular, backing his words with probes that he has initiated in his capacity of mayor of the capital Sofia.
"If we mislead the voters, we will get where Simeon Saxe-Coburg is now," Borisov said, referring to the sorry results of the former king and prime minister, who didn't make it to the next parliament.
Asked about the date when he will leave the office of the mayor of capital, he laconically said:
"I will inform you of that when the time comes."
Borisov was also cautious about the coalition possibiolities he is willing to enter into, saying that after the final results come out, he will invite the parties in the center-right part of the political spectrum for negotiations.
"We want to be a government of all people," Borisov said.
"I want to thank those, who voted for us and assure those who did not that we will try to lead politics good for all Bulgarian people," he added, referring to the ethnic Turks in particular, who in his words, "should not listen to those, who play on their fears."
WHO IS WHO: Bulgaria's Major Political Parties - 2009 Parliamentary Elections
Elections 2009
Bulgaria's major political parties at the 2009 Parliamentary Elections ranked by ideological affiliation from right to left. The threshold for entering Bulgarian Parliament is 4% of the cast votes.
"Ataka" ("Attack")
Leaders: Volen Siderov, Chair
Ideology: Nationalist/Far Right
Founded: 2005
Participated in Govt: Never
International Political Affiliation: In 2007, Ataka was part of the "Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty" group in the European Parliament, a far-right formation of 23 MEPs from 6 European states
2009 Elections Result: 9,5%
RZS ("Order, Law, Justice")
Leaders: Yane Yanev, Chair
Ideology: Rightist/Conservative (of the UK type)
Founded: 2005
Participated in Govt: Never
International Political Affiliation: Endorsed by UK Conservative Party Leaders; affiliated with the Union of European Conservatives and Reformers in the EP
2009 Elections Result: 4,1%
Blue Coalition - (Union of Democratic Forces + Democrats for Strong Bulgaria)
Leaders: Martin Dimitrov, Ivan Kostov - Co-Chairs
Ideology: Rightist/Christian Democrat (of the German type)
Founded: UDF founded 1990; Blue Coalition founded 2009
Participation in Govt: (UDF) 1991-1992, 1997-2001
International Political Affiliation: Member of the European People's Party
2009 Elections Result: 6,5%
GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria)
Leaders: Boyko Borisov, informal leader; Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Chair
Ideology: Rightist//Christian Democrat (of the German type)
Founded: 2006
Participation in Govt: Never
International Political Affiliation: Member of the European People's Party
2009 Elections Result: 41%
NMSP (National Movement for Stability and Prosperity)
Leaders: Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Chair
Ideology: Centrist/Liberal
Founded: 2001
Participation in Govt: 2001-2009
International Political Affiliation: Member of the Liberal International
2009 Elections Result: 2,9%
LIDER (Liberation Initiative for Democratic European Development)
Leaders: Hristo Kovachki, informal leader; Kancho Filipov, Chair
Ideology: Center-Right/Liberal
Founded: 2008
Participation in Govt: Never
International Political Affiliation: None
2009 Elections Result: 3,3%
DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms)
Leaders: Ahmed Dogan, Chair
Ideology: Centrist/Liberal
Founded: 1990
Participation in Govt: 1992-1994, 2001-2009
International Political Affiliation: Member of the Liberal International
2009 Elections Result: 13,5%
BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party)
Leaders: Sergey Stanishev, Chair
Ideology: Leftist/Socialist (of the French type)
Founded: 1891/Reformed 1990
Participation in Govt: 1945-1990 (as Bulgarian Communist Party), 1990, 1992-1994, 1994-1997, 2005-2009
International Political Affiliation: Member of the Party of European Socialists, Member of the Socialist International
2009 Elections Result: 17,9%
GERB Overwhelming Winner of Bulgaria Parliamentary Elections - Parallel Vote Counting
Elections 2009
Sofia Mayor Boyko Borisov's party GERB has won categorically Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections on Sunday, July 5, 2009.
According to the parallel vote counting of the Sova Harris sociological agency, GERB has received 41,8%, the Bulgarian Socialist Party - 17,1%, ethnic Turkish party DPS 13,2%, nationalist "Ataka" party - 9,6%, Blue Coalition - 6,3%, Conservative party RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") - 4,4%.
The NMSP party of former Tsar Simeon Saxe-Coburg (2,9%), and the LIDER party of energy tycoon Hristo Kovachki (3,2%) have failed to pass the 4% threshold, and don't make it to the Parliament.
According to Sova Harris, GERB is getting 120 MP Seats, one short of a majority, BSP - 39, DPS - 35, Ataka - 22, Blue Coalition - 14, RZS - 10.
Sova Harris has not monitoring the elections among Bulgarian citizens abroad, and according to its data the 50 000-100 000 votes that might come from Turkey for the DPS might mean additional 3-4 MP seats for the party.
Sova Harris also corrected its exit poll prediction about the majority candidates; according to the latest data, GERB has won 26, and DPS has won 5 of the total of 31 majority elected MPs (earlier Sova Harris predicted that GERB won 27, and DPS 4).
Former Tsar and PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg Vows to Stay in Bulgaria
Elections 2009
Bulgaria's former Tsar, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, vowed to remain in Bulgaria despite his party's disappointing performance at the general elections.
The National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) of the former Tsar and former Prime Minister has been part of the country's rule since 2001 but failed to make Sunday the 4% threshold with a disappointing result of 3,5%.
Saxe-Coburg further stated considering the exit polls results, a Cabinet would be appointed quickly, which was good for Bulgaria.
The NMSP leader admitted he did not expect such disheartening loss and said poor results and mistakes, including his own, would be analyzed, but this was not the moment to make grave conclusions.
When asked if some of the NMSP partners from the three-party Coalition that ruled Bulgaria for the last 4 years were to blame for the disappointing results and if he needed to distance himself and his party from those partners as early as Bulgaria's accession to the EU in 2007, Simeon said he was not a politician and a person to distance himself from anything over interests.
"I spend 50 years in exile; can you imagine me leaving now? Please, I have been born on this land. So many years abroad, chased away from the motherland after an illegal referendum and leave now? Because you think I am offended? No, please, no such thing," Simeon told reporters Sunday.
Bulgaria Tsar Party MP Velchev: Election Results Are Disappointing
Elections 2009
The MP from the NMSP party of former Tsar and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Milen Velchev, stated that the party leadership was disappointed by the election results.
Velchev spoke Sunday evening just minutes after the first exit polls results were announced showing his National Movement for Stability and Prosperity party did not make the 4% threshold thus would not be represented in Bulgaria's 41st General Assembly.
Velchev further said the pollsters forecasts were known for statistical errors so he would not comment on the party's future parliamentary representation.
"It is fact that we are disappointed from out results. It is obvious Bulgarian voters demonstrated their strong will for change which they associated with the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party," Velchev stated.
He congratulated GERB for their landslide victory, adding NMSP had made significant omissions.
According to Velchev, the previous schism of his party had no influence over the vote just because people simply wanted change, but said the election results were influenced by the radical party campaigning and statements of the leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, (DPS), Ahmed Dogan.
WHO IS WHO: Bulgaria's Top Political Leaders after Parliamentary Elections 2009
Elections 2009
Who Is Who among the political leaders of Bulgaria's top political parties as the results of the 2009 Parliamentary Elections, which took place on Sunday, July 5, 2009, become clear.
Boyko Borisov, informal leader, GERB Party
Public Service Record:
1982-1990 - officer at Fire Safety Service of the Sofia City Directorate of Bulgaria's Interior Ministry
2001-2005 - Chief Secretary, Interior Ministry
2005-present - Mayor of Bulgaria's capital Sofia
Views:
Boyko Borisov retains a public reputation as a strongman on law and order issues. He has pledged numerous times his uncompromising dedication to fighting corruption and organized crime. As a Sofia Mayor, he has initiated investigations of the municipally-owned companies which have led to the uncovering of a number of embezzlement schemes. He is said to have fired close associates from municipal jobs just over doubts of corruption.
Borisov's GERB party espouses a center-right ideology. He has repeatedly stated there was no way he could cooperate with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and that one of his major missions was to oust from politics Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), as well as his party, because both the BSP and DPS were corrupt and abused power.
During a meeting with Bulgarian immigrants in Chicago in 2009, Borisov has stated that Bulgaria must try to turn neighboring Macedonia into a "friendly state" by using its economic and political influence.
Quote: "We have a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, and I am not going to waste my time just dealing with Stanishev's PR all day long and every day. If he wanted to do some real work with me, he would have come to discuss things when I was looking for him... This is a shame for Stanishev and Dogan, a shame for the institution called "Parliament"! I would tell Stanishev and Dogan, that they are currently playing with my life. They overstepped the boundaries of politics, and through their parties they are trying to attack my personality. This is a direct attempt on my life. I will persecute them until they are in jail."
Sergey Stanishev, Chair, Bulgarian Socialist Party
Public Service Record:
June 2001- June 2005 - Member of the 39th Bulgarian Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist; Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy, Defense, and Security
June 2005 - 16 August 2005 - Member of the 40th Bulgarian Parliament
16 August 2005 - (2009) - Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Views
Sergey Stanishev has became the fourth Chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party after it was renamed and reformed in 1990. He is said to represent the modernization of the BSP and its espousing of a European-type socialism as well as its outreach to the younger people.
His leadership marked the peak of BSP's efforts to be legitimized as a contemporary socialist/social-democratic party doing away with its communist past. This was practically achieved with the full member of the BSP in the Socialist International (2003) and the Party of European Socialists (2005).
Stanishev's recent book "Because We Are Socialists" outlines his views on a modern socialist development for Bulgaria. In it, he criticizes certain aspects of the communist past of Bulgaria but argues that the Bulgarian right had not managed to carry out the necessary reforms in the post-socialist transition, and that the European-type socialism is the major viable route for development of Bulgaria.
His government's "Stanishev Plan" for tackling the effects of the global financial and economic crisis on Bulgaria in 2008-2009, provides for preserving the country's macroeconomic stability and budget surplus policy while increasing the public welfare, employment, and infrastructure spending.
Quote: "Borisov needs to stop whining and come debate with me on the national TV. It is obvious to everyone that Mr. Borisov does not have a clear vision about the country's development, nor does he have a plan how to overcome the global financial crisis' effects, something of prime importance now. Borisov must stop involving the entire country with his personal problems. I have invited him several times to discuss with me the economic development of Bulgaria, ways to defend our interests in the European Parliament so that we can find out who is busy with empty rhetoric and negative campaigning. In the last four years Boyko Borisov appeared in the media 5 000 times and none of this appearances overcame the negative campaign he is leading against the Cabinet in general and the Bulgarian Socialist Party in particular."
Ahmed Dogan, Chair, Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS)
Public Service Record:
1990-2009 - Member of Parliament from the DPS, elected on the proportional DPS ticket in every single Parliament since 1990
Views:
Dogan has maintained a public image of a fighter for the rights of minorities, and for being a liberal and a centrist politician. He often speaks about supporting the democratic system in Bulgaria, and about the Bulgarian "national idea".
Quote: "Bulgaria would have had a different kind of fate if I had decided, just once, to make a deliberate mistake." "Vote-buying is a typically European practice."
Volen Siderov, Chair, "Ataka" ("Attack") Party
Public Service Record:
2005-2009 - Member of Parliament from the Ataka party
Views:
After being a proponent of Western-style reforms, NATO, and the USA in the early 1990s, towards the end of the 1990s, Siderov has started to write on the world conspiracy and anti-Bulgarian policies, and to engage in generally anti-Western rhetoric.
He has also spoken against what he describes as the discrimination against ethnic Bulgarians in their own state. This is related to the non-prosecution by the state of crimes committed by ethnic minorities and the free provision to certain ethnic groups of social services that have been denied to ordinary Bulgarians.
Siderov has been stigmatized and rejected as a populist and a xenophobe by virtually the entire Bulgarian establishment, including the mainstream media and political parties.
Siderov is known as being an extremely powerful public speaker. Over the last few years he has often gathered crowds of Ataka supporters for street rallies on various occasions.
Quote: "Let's summarize the politics of today. Those, who rule the country now, the so-called tri-party Coalition, quickly forgot all their promises, sunk into robbery, corruption and into anti-Bulgarian and anti-social politics. The current tri-party Coalition says "yes" on Turkey becoming an EU member. Brothers and sisters, Bulgarians! What would Turkey's EU membership mean for Europe? I will tell you with facts and numbers. Turkey currently has a population of 70 millions. The Muslim country will rule the EU; will have the most Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the most votes. It will tell everyone what to do and what not to do. I will tell you what they are going to do - they will build mosques all over, they will place a minaret on top of the Eiffel Tower. As far as Bulgaria is concerned, we are doomed to extinction. When Turkey joins the EU, the Turkish yoke, the one our national heroes fought against, will resume once again."
Ivan Kostov, Chair, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria Party; Co-Chair, Blue Coalition
Public Service Record:
1990 - deputy in Bulgaria's VII Grand National Assembly
1990-1992 - Minister of Finance in the governments of the Dimitar Popov (December1990-November 1991) as one of the three UDF Ministers, and in the first UDF government of PM Filip Dimitrov (November 1991 - December 1992).
December 1994-January 1997 - MP from the UDF in the 37th Parliament
June 1997-June 2001 - Prime Minister in the UDF government
2001 - 2004 - MP from the UDF
2004-2005 - MP from the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party
2005-2009 - MP from the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party
Views
Ivan Kostov is a strong proponent of free market economy and rightist (Christian-Democrat) economic and government policies. He is known for his strong pro-Western orientation, and for being firm on Russia's influence on Bulgaria as well as on Turkey's role in Bulgarian politics and Turkey's EU membership aspirations.
Quote: "The ayatollahs' regime in Iran is killing people while our Foreign Ministry keeps its mouth shut... The Bulgarian government is passive because its foreign policy is favorable to Russia, which supports "ayatollahs' regime"... The BSP and DPS use the same schemes in Bulgaria so there is no way they would criticize the regime in Iran."
Yane Yanev, Chair, RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") Party
Public Service Record
June 2005 - June 2009 - Member of the Bulgarian Parliament from the United Democratic Forces coalition, later from the RZS ("Order, Law, Justice") Party
Views:
Yane Yanev is famous for being strong on anti-corruption measures and policies as well as on putting forth a conservative ideology, trying to present his RZS as an authentic conservative party.
Quote: "The Bulgarian people lost all hope and trust in political morals. For over 20 years, Bulgaria ranks among the outsiders in Europe by its living standard. The law is law for some and an open door for others, while corruption is the norm. The three-way coalition's rule, instead of creating a stable middle class, stole all the money and gave it to the oligarchs. The underground criminals are no longer as dangerous as the new "white collar mutras" (i.e. gangsters) who drove into exile over 1 million true, creative Bulgarians. Bulgaria is only an imitation of a normal European country. The tumors of corruption must be cut as soon as possible with a scalpel."
Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Chair, National Movement for Stability and Progress
Public Service Record
August 1943-1946 - Tsar of the Bulgarians
June 2001-June 2005 - Prime Minister of Bulgaria
June 2005-2009 - part of the so called Governing Coalition Council together with PM Stanishev and DPS leader Dogan - formally not a government body but an informal structure practically setting up the government's agenda
Views
Saxe-Coburg is known for his unique style of being somewhat thrifty in his words, public statements, and interviews. While his party, NMSS (NMSP) initially tried to define itself as a conservative political formation, it later adopted a centrist-liberal ideology subsequently projected by its leader in his policies and statements.
Quote : "At this age if I feel that I have the support and trust that are necessary, absolutely nothing would stop me, and without batting an eyelid, to turn to other socially useful objectives"
Hristo Kovachki, informal leader, LIDER Party
Quote: "I can't talk about the others, I can talk about myself only. My work day from dawn till evening is filled with work, various projects. I have no yacht, no plane, no luxury houses. So - if that's what an "oligarch" means in Bulgaria - for me this is a person who exerts all their efforts to work, to preserve jobs, to develop an industry; for me this is hardworking person."
Bulgaria Former Tsar Party Out of Parliament
Elections 2009
The party of Bulgaria's former Tsar and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg failed to make it to the next parliament after garnering no more than 2,9% of the votes, exit polls show.
The centrist National Movement for Stability and Prosperity is one of the 9 or 8 out of all 14 tickets that failed to overcome the 4% threshold to enter the race for the 240 legislative seats.
Simeon Saxe-Coburg became Europe's only ex-monarch to be elected prime minister after sweeping the polls in June 2001. At the time of his election Saxe-Coburg promised to bring about a substantial improvement in living standards within his government's first 800 days in office.
In 2005 the former Tsar's party lost the elections to the Bulgarian Socialist Party, but later joined the governing three-way coalition as a junior partner.
Simeon Saxe-Coburg was Tsar of Bulgaria between 1943 and 1946 when at the age of eight he was exiled by the communist regime to Spain, where he spent most of his life.
Opposition GERB with Landslide Election Victory - Exit Poll
Elections 2009
An exit poll indicates the self-proclaimed center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party is the definite winner of the general elections.
The data was announced by the polling agency Alpha Research for the TV channel Nova Televizia at 7 pm Sunday after the polling sections across the country closed. The data comes from the agency's 6 pm exit poll.
With the surprising 38,5% of the vote, GERB comes first, way ahead of the "Coalition for Bulgaria" and its most important partner, the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 18,4%, and the ruling ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) with 13,5%.
According to the exit poll, 3 other parties have secured seats in Bulgaria's 41st General Assembly.
The far-right nationalist Ataka party has 9,2 %,.
The opposition, rightist "Blue Coalition" between the two biggest right-wing parties, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) and the United Democratic Forces (UDF) registered 7,5%.
The newcomer on Bulgaria's political horizon, the conservative right-wing "Order, Lawfulness and Justice" (RZS) is the last party so far making it to the Parliament with 4,1%.
The other newcomer - LIDER, founded and sponsored by controversial energy tycoon Hristo Kovachki has 3,9% at the exit poll.
The National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP) of former Tsar and PM, Simeon Saxe-Coburg has been part of the country's rule since 2001 but failed to make the 4% threshold with 3,5%.
Boyko Borisov's GERB Triumphs over Stanishev's BSP - Exit Poll
Elections 2009
The rightist GERB party of Sofia Mayor, Boyko Borisov, has triumphed over the Bulgarian Socialist Party of PM, Sergey Stanishev, in Bulgaria's Parliamentary Elections on Sunday, July 5.
According to the exit poll of the Alpha Research Agency, GERB ("Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria") has won 38,5% followed by the BSP with 18,4%.
The ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) of Ahmed Dogan is third with 13,5%.
The nationalist "Ataka" ("Attack") party of Volen Siderov is fourth with 9,2%.
The rightist Blue Coalition made up of the Union of Democratic Forces, led by Martin Dimitrov, and the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, led by former Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov, are fifth with 7,5%.
Three more parties are on the verge of entering Parliament; to enter the Bulgarian parliament a party or a coalition needs at least 4% of the cast votes.
The National Movement for Stability and Prosperity, whose leader is Bulgaria's former Tsar and former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, has received 3,5%.
The coalition of LIDER ("Liberal Initiative for Democratic European Development") party, whose informal leader is the energy tycoon Hristo Kovachki, and its junior partner "Novoto Vreme" ("The New Time") of Emil Koshlukov, is 3,9%.
The coalition of the "Order, Law, Justice" party of Yane Yanev and the nationalist VMRO of Krasimir Karakachanov is 4,1%.
source: Novinite.com
