On the eve of Bulgaria's Independence Day - September 22, on the air of “The Day Live“, political scientist Prof. Ognyan Minchev commented on current political processes, including the latest vote of no confidence and the growing tension between major political figures.
Independence begins with taking responsibility
According to Prof. Minchev, the main problem of Bulgarian politics is the lack of responsibility - both among representatives of the status quo and among those who claim change. “Independence begins with taking responsibility. Unfortunately, the main figures of the last quarter century are not able to take on this heavy responsibility, and those who want to replace them serve a revolutionary mood that is too weak to impose radical change,“ he said.
The fifth vote of no confidence failed
Minchev emphasized that as a result, the “space of vacuum“ in public life is expanding, which threatens the very existence of institutions. According to him, this vacuum is not only institutional, but also psychological, since the trust between political players, as well as between them and voters, has been severely eroded.
Over 50% of Bulgarians refuse to vote
“This creates a crisis of representation, which further complicates the situation“, pointed out Prof. Minchev. According to him, the majority of citizens no longer believe that elections can bring real change, which is a serious symptom of a weakening democracy.
Tension between Borisov and Peevski
Commenting on the relations between Boyko Borisov and Delyan Peevski, Prof. Minchev admitted that tension between them has been observed for some time. “Borisov's words and Peevski's response add publicity to these contradictions“, he said. Minchev drew a parallel between the early Borisov and the current Peevski, noting the similarity in their activity and self-confidence, but stressed that Peevski has “arrogance that does not create a good impression within the framework of the democratic debate.“
“Three Prime Ministers“ – metaphor for the distribution of power
Prof. Minchev also commented on the claims that the country has “three prime ministers“. According to him, this is a metaphor that describes the reality of the distribution of power. “Peevski has great informal and shadow power, especially since the existence of the majority and the government depends on his support“, he said. At the same time, he emphasized that the current cabinet has no real alternative, since the only other option is a new caretaker government, which could deepen the crisis.
Protests still do not give birth to new leadership
In conclusion, Prof. Minchev commented on the effectiveness of protests and votes of no confidence as tools of the opposition. “Protests are a manifestation of civil will, but they are still far from the level of effectiveness that can lead to political change. "Their biggest flaw is that they are not raising new leadership, without which change is impossible," he said. As for the no-confidence votes, Prof. Minchev described them as "political advertising."