For the eighth time in just five years, Bulgaria voted in a new government on Sunday. This time, however, there was a clear result: the new centre-left coalition Progressive Bulgaria, headed by former president Ruman Radev, won an absolute majority with around 45 percent of the vote, while former prime minister Boyko Borisov’s conservative Gerb Party secured just 13 percent. Will this bring a shift in Bulgaria’s attitude to the EU?
Borisov gone but his system remains
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Bulgarians saw Radev as their only chance to get rid of Borisov, e-vestnik postulates (Bulgaria):
“Radev’s pro-Russian majority in parliament does not reflect the actual balance of power in society. Until now, the defenders of Russia, the aggressor, had held around a third of the seats in parliament. Now, however, the desire of the majority of the population to oust Borisov has brought Radev victory. ... Many who voted for him will soon be disappointed, but there will be no snap election any time soon. There is much to suggest that Radev will follow in Orbán’s footsteps and take his place alongside Fico in the European family. And that he will merely replace Borisov, rather than dismantling the system he created.”
Europe’s new vetoist
La Repubblica voices a fear (Italy):
“Bulgaria could become the new Hungary. At least in its role as a thorn in the side of the EU and as Putin’s ‘fifth column’. Rumen Radev, leader of the new ‘Progressive Bulgaria’ party – which is clearly sovereignist and pro-Russian in orientation – has emerged victorious from the parliamentary election. His stance was anti-Ukrainian from the start of his campaign. If Radev succeeds in forming a government, the greatest danger – one that has the EU on high alert – is that he will become a ‘veto man’, just like Orbán.”
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