Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria
(GERB) Graždani za Evropejsko Razvitie na Balgarija
Former Sofia Mayor and Interior Ministry General Boiko Borisov was implicated in serious criminal activity and maintains close ties to LUKoil and the Russian embassy. Borisov stormed onto the national political scene in mid-2006, founding a new movement that quickly became the most popular political force in the country. Borisov denied rumors that he will be a candidate for president in this fall's elections; he seemed instead to have his eye on the more powerful post of prime minister, and publicly said that he did not want to see the current coalition government serve out its term.
Borisov publicly stated that his party had been established with the financial and advisory support of the German right-wing foundations close to the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU). Although he is not unequivocally accepted in the EU, Borisov still enjoys the support of important factors in the European People's Party (EPP) and, although tacitly, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU), as well.
Borisov was elected mayor in November 2005, after overseeing the nation's law enforcement agencies as Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry from 2001-2005. He catapulted to fame in that job, personally leading raids against drug traffickers and car thieves and gaining near-heroic status in the media as Bulgaria's top crime-figher. Borisov, who once described himself as "Bulgaria's biggest asset," appeals to the public with his plain yet colorful language, unpretentious behavior, and sharp criticism of the country's political elite. He is the most popular political figure in the country, having maintained a consistent approval rating of over 60 percent for the past five years despite a mixed record against organized crime at the Interior Ministry.
GERB's meteoric rise siphoned away support from the radical nationalists of ATAKA, whose rating fell to 7 percent, off a high of 11 percent in January (septel). GERB also attracted supporters of center-right opposition parties, which in recent years had become too divided by personality conflicts among their leaders to offer any meaningful counterweight to the ruling coalition. Borisov's nationalist, "tough-guy" credentials, pro-European rhetoric, and populist style led many political observers to consider him the only man who can unite the Bulgarian right. Borisov did little to disabuse them of this notion.
Borisov was dismissive of other right-wing parties, stating that he "would destroy" ATAKA, and that the National Movement for Simeon the Second (NMSS), with whom he was once affiliated, "is melting." If he were to ally with anyone, he said, it would be with the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), the right-wing party which ruled Bulgaria through much of the nineties. The party, which currently polls at less than 5 percent, "is finished" in Borisov's view, but he would still consider a partnership, if only "to keep the brand" alive.
In a clear signal for change and a turn to the right, Sofia Mayor Borissov's GERB party scored a victory over the incumbent Socialist party in the July 5 national elections. Voters punished the ruling coalition (including ethnic-Turkish MRF and ex-King Simeon's NMS, which failed to cross the 4 percent barrage) for widespread corruption, damaged relations with the EU, and failure to deal with the economic crisis. Borissov vowed to make Bulgaria a "new country," prosecute corrupt figures in the previous government, improve relations with the EU and seek IMF assistance with the economic crisis.
GERB won nearly half the seats in parliament, and formed a coalition with the center-right Blue coalition and other individual deputies. Presdent Parvanov announced he would convene the new parliament on July 14, and government formation may take place as early as the end of July. The new government will be strongly pro-West, and with many GERB members relatively new to politics, it will look to us for guidance on a range of issues.
GERB won a strong victory of 39.7 percent of the vote plus 26 majority seats for a total 116 deputies in Bulgaria's 240 member parliament, only five short of a majority. BSP won only 40 seats. GERB had always been the front runner over BSP by margins of 5-10 percent. Undecided voters at the last minute came out to give GERB a 20 percent margin. Voter turnout was an impressive 60.2 percent, as the angry electorate repudiated the BSP. Exit polls indicated a protest vote against the incumbent government, cast for the ruling coalition's main opponent as opposed to Ataka or one of the smaller protest parties. Another factor many voters cited was MRF leader Ahmed Dogan's arrogant and offensive statements claiming to "control those who control the power." With MRF's reputation for blatant corruption, for many the statement was a last straw. A bigger surprise than the margin over BSP is GERB's near sweep of the 31 majority mandate districts ) GERB 26 and MRF 5. BSP expected to dominate the new districts, but Borissov's tactic of running candidates actually resident in the districts paid off handsomely.
As a young party, GERB lacked experienced cadre and has sought to attract respected professionals, such as World Bank economists Simeon Dyankov and Kristalina Georgieva for senior governmental or advisory positions. The Blue Coalition parties UDF and DSB were a source of experienced bureaucratic talent, another reason to include them in the coalition. With a combined total of 131 seats, a GERB-Blue coalition may seek to add to its numbers by attracting otherwise respectable deputies away from OLJ and Ataka; if not formally then on a case-by-case basis.
Borissov ran on a campaign of rooting out corruption, warning government officials to "be afraid, be very afraid" if they participated in corruption. Borissov will want to move quickly to clean up the country's administration and reform the Ministry of Interior and judiciary to convince the EU that the GOB is finally attacking corruption to stave off further sanctions. He has also pledged to cut and reduce the size of ministries, slash budget spending, and begin talks with the IMF on July 6 to avert financial crisis.
Right-of-centre political party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) of Sofia mayor Boyko Borissov won the country’s parliamentary elections on Sunday (based on 99.8% of ballots), standing all chances to form the 41st Cabinet with the Blue Coalition. According to the Central Electoral Commission the GERB party won about 40% of the votes or 116 seats in Bulgaria’s 240-seat unicameral parliament.
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