Fresh elections: Bulgaria between hope and weariness
Bulgaria is voting in a new government on Sunday - for the second time this year. Since elections in April produced a political stalemate the country has been ruled by an interim government. Will there be a clear result this time? And if so, will there be genuine change or just a return to power of the associates of the scandal-ridden ex-prime minister Borisov?
Borisov and his cronies must be brought to book
Sega is confident that ex-prime minister Boyko Borisov's party will not form part of the new government and demands that it be held to account for its misdeeds during its twelve years in power:
“Hardly anyone believed a year ago that the mafia empire could be so vulnerable. But in just one month, the interim government has managed to prise open the lid on official propaganda and let out the stench of rotting state affairs. ... Until recently, Boyko Borisov felt unimpeachable. ... Delyan Peevsky, the country's biggest oligarch, was also considered untouchable, and the most loyal protector of these two men, [Prosecutor General] Ivan Geshev, is probably also under the illusion of having impunity. ... But no one is more powerful than the people.”
Low voter turnout perpetuates status quo
Dilema Veche, on the other hand, sees little chance of major change:
“It is very likely that the new parliament will once again be fragmented and marked by deep divides between the old parties and the new, anti-establishment parties. In an impoverished country suffering from rampant corruption and overwhelmed by the health crisis, people care as little about politics as politicians care about the people. But low voter turnout alone will help the old parties to stay in power, or at least close to it - at the expense of good governance.”