Budget, opposition, protests, politics… Who positions themselves in the political arena and how to make people take to the streets. Attorney Elena Guncheva speaks to FACTI.
- Ms. Guncheva, you were a deputy, but how do you view what is happening in parliament now? What do you like and what - not?
- It is difficult to like anything in parliament at all in recent years. It is striking that instead of debates on legislation that are related to the topic of the bill, the parliamentary session is filled with personal attacks, attempts at wit, mutual accusations. And somehow the main goal of parliament - to make laws that regulate public relations is being lost. Moreover, the level is getting lower with each election. If I had to name a member of parliament who is competent, speaks well, makes proposals, and stands out from his colleagues, I would have a hard time.
Democracy and parliamentarism are almost not felt.
And as for liking - the new parliament hall and the parliament chair are nice, that's just a joke. Bulgaria's draft budget, which is currently being discussed, has brought people to the streets.
- Will this be a one-time thing or will the public discontent continue?
- I think there is a misunderstanding about the difference between a reason and an occasion.
Is it possible that someone is suggesting that the people in the square have read the three budgets - the state, the NHIF and the state social security.
I can even boldly assume that a large part of the deputies have not read them. The state budget alone is 718 pages. To expect that every Bulgarian citizen will understand it is far-fetched. I, for example, read them. I was impressed that defense spending for next year is 2,657,597.2 thousand leva. And for education it is 833,361.4 thousand leva. That is, for next year the state prefers to invest in weapons and the army, not in education. Which in turn expresses the position of the European Union that we must prepare for war. It is precisely from the budgets that one can determine what awaits us.
Well, war awaits us, and whether there will be educated and quality Bulgarians is a third-rate issue for the government.
To return to the topic of the protests – The reason given was the social security and tax burden. Dividend tax is increasing twice. And now let's think about it - who exactly receives dividends? The average Bulgarian, employed under an employment contract, or partners and shareholders in large commercial companies? It is precisely they who are getting this tax in their pockets.
The increase in social security contributions is also ill-considered.
The rulers forgot that people are extremely worried about the introduction of the euro. No matter whether they are “for“ or “against“ it. And this is because of the chaos, because of the concerns about whether there will be enough banknotes and coins, because of the recalculation, because of the increase in prices. Many traders and acquaintances with small businesses told me that they will not work at all for the first few weeks until they understand what will happen and things are regulated. And how can we expect Grandma Penka to get better in this chaos? The introduction of the euro in other countries has not gone very smoothly either, but considering the “competence“ of our current rulers, I expect complete chaos to ensue. That is why people sensitively accept every increase in taxes and social security contributions. Everyone is worried about their bread. But the protests were not about that. As someone who has been to protests since the beginning of the transition, I can categorically state to you that such a large protest is carried out with very good organization and a lot of money. In certain circles, it is known where and how much is given for the presence of large groups of people.
PP-DB used social discontent. Not that they are so concerned about the people and the budget.
But rather, they were concerned about being left out of the government and the rations would be distributed without them. This does not belittle the protest, of course. In this case, everyone had a common goal - to have the budgets revised, to make the government feel insecure. Of course, the PP-DB wants to participate in the government and for them that was the goal, and the other people simply wanted the government to resign.
- Is it only when someone reaches into the pockets of the Bulgarian that he gets so annoyed that he goes out into the streets?
- Traditionally, the Bulgarian is a tough democrat – in order to get angry, things really have to be very serious and affect him personally. People rarely protest for principles and ideological causes.
But we must also note that the protests do not achieve the desired result by the people.
We remember five years ago what large-scale protests there were, and some people climbed on our backs, washed Borisov, and now we see him again distributing rations in the state. When you have been beaten, gassed, pushed at protests, when you have protested for two hundred days in the heat and rain, and in the end people even more incompetent and thieving than those you protested against come to power, climbing on the backs of the protests, you somehow lose desire. And I don't remember in all of history that anyone has achieved anything with peaceful protests. Bulgarian rulers are not subtly sensitive to the opinion of the people.
- Protest in Sofia and the budget will be reviewed after Borisov said he would withdraw it. How does society react to the “test“…
- The games are not between society and the government, but between two political cliques. Who will take power, who will absorb the money. Society was used, but it was good that people believed in themselves that they could change something. Those in power are really afraid of the people's anger.
The problem in Bulgaria is that the people have no leaders.
Politicians, of course, do not get involved in this concept, because their goal is not for the people to be well, but for them to be well.
- Prime Minister Zhelyazkov immediately agreed with Borisov. Does Zhelyazkov actually have another move?
- You surprised me with this question.
I highly doubt that Zhelyazkov has his own opinion, even to say “Good morning“, without written permission from Borisov, signed in triplicate.
This is known both in Bulgaria and around the world. Why do journalists ask Borisov about the budget, and not the prime minister? Why do foreign politicians and diplomats go directly to Borisov, and not to the Council of Ministers? Zhelyazkov is Borisov's straw man. And at his age, the flexible spine can hardly be strengthened.
- We hear how Delyan Peevski is a guarantor of stability and works for the people. And raising social security directly digs into people's pockets. Is that the concern…
- All politicians, when we listen to them, think about the people – some good, humane, conscientious, honorable ones. I don't really listen to them bragging about themselves. Of course, they work for the people, including Mr. Peevski. There's probably a detailed list of people somewhere. And about the social security contributions - yes, it goes into people's pockets. But the dividend tax goes into the pockets of the rich. No one even mentions the civil servants who don't pay their social security contributions - the state pays them or rather doesn't pay them, that is, our social security contributions also cover those of the entire administration that is expanding like a cancerous growth. Mr. Peevski can't be a guarantor of anything, because nothing is certain. And next year we will all understand why.
- A dispute has already arisen between the ruling party and the opposition as to whether the protest in Sofia is the opposition's or the employers'. Did we see a united opposition?... - The protest in Sofia was by the PP-DB, supported by all those who are against the government and used the occasion. Of course, the employers also participated. Knowing who the big employers are, I have no doubt that if the budget proposes a minimum wage of ten euros and social security contributions paid entirely by the workers, they will agree immediately and unconditionally.
They are only interested in their profits. Wild capitalism in action.
And as for the opposition - they unite only when they have to vote for salary increases. There is no opposition in parliament - just some people who play in front of the electorate of good and bad cops. And party interests are above national ones. How can there be a united opposition, since the entry of each opposition party figuratively eats from the subsidy of the other opposition parties. They are fighting for the same electorate. And salaries, bonuses, subsidies and other goodies depend on this. Where there is a certain limited resource to distribute, there is no unity.
- PP-DB and “Vazrazhdane“ somehow converged positions against the budget. Is that so…
- I would be infinitely amazed if even one MP from “Vazrazhdane“ has read more than three pages of the budgets. Interests converge. It is not the first time I have seen that they have similar positions, but on the other hand, when there is a common goal, there are interests, not friends and enemies. Although I doubt that the common goal is precisely the budget.
- A policeman who has a significantly increased salary is flattering the people. Is this what citizens deserve?
- By definition, the police guard the power. Not us, the people, but those in power.
To expect that the police will be with the people, and not with the authorities, means grave naivety.
I still remember how the police beat us five years ago, how they messed with the young people behind the columns of the Council of Ministers, how they gassed us. And think about why the salaries of the police are increasing, and not the salaries of the young doctors. It also has something to do with the budget and the goals of the government. There are many power structures in Bulgaria. Private security guards, for example, are more than our army. A lot of resources are invested in the police and security. And almost nothing in education and healthcare. This brings up thoughts of dictatorship. Oh, yes, there are elections - we have already seen what and how the results are changed. And yes, there is freedom of speech. For certain people. But in fact we live in a soft dictatorship. And as for deserving - every nation deserves government. We jumped against socialism, we wanted capitalism, we wanted to be in NATO, we wanted to be in the EU, we wanted to become like the Americans. Well, who is to blame...?
- Salaries in law enforcement agencies are being raised by a lot, while in other state structures - only by 5%. Does the government buy security?
- The government owns security. Police, army. Political appointees are at the top everywhere.
Uncomfortable employees are thrown out of the system.
Those who can't stand the nerves to watch what's happening leave themselves. There are constant revelations about how police officers provide an umbrella for criminals. Minor crimes are condemned. There are no arrests or convictions for the robbery of the state, for major corruption, and that's how it will be. The government has security. Not only in the police. The government appoints its inspectors and controllers. The circle is closed. In Bulgaria, things are getting worse year by year.
We have a kind of kakistocracy that is very well aware that only the police stand between it and the people.
The people are expected to become poorer as a result of the adoption of the euro, not that we have blossomed and are already doing well. Bulgaria is not Sofia. Go to the small Rhodope or northwestern towns and villages and you will see real, medieval misery, poverty and destitution. In Bulgaria, while some rulers distribute millions of leva in bonuses, boxes are being collected in shops and public places to collect leva for the treatment of children and young people. Our economy is in shambles. We are decreasing in number - apparently due to good governance and a good life. Sooner or later, things will escalate, and a lot. That is why the government is predictable. Although the wheel is always turning.