Young people in Bulgaria are dangerously distanced from politics, the director of "Gallup International" told BNR. Parvan Simeonov.
"Lack of minimum immunity, political. Lack of desire to be included in those decisions that involve you. Serious ghettoization and marginalization of a large part of young people in Bulgaria due to the demographic, ethnic and social situation, related to very serious social inequalities and regional differences in Bulgaria. Bulgaria seems to need a special policy that addresses the youth as part of an effort for Bulgaria's human capital", he expressed his opinion.
At the same time, young people are also those who can quickly feel the advantages of the EU, mostly related to the mobility it implies, noted the sociologist. However, according to him, young people in Europe are also the most susceptible to political radicalism.
"These dangers attack where there is little information and interest," Simeonov was categorical.
"Bulgaria has traditional historical and cultural sentiments towards Russia. Here is fertile ground for intervention and propaganda," he commented and emphasized that any event that raises awareness on this topic is important.
Prvan Simeonov also emphasized the crossroads at which the EU stands. According to him, the Union is in great danger. According to him, as the euro vote approaches, there will be a lot of eurosceptic sentiments, especially in countries like Bulgaria. There are many problems, he is emphatic and added that information and awareness are needed for the fact that the EU is living in times of crossroads.
However, the sociologist is adamant that in Bulgaria trust in the EU remains high - noticeably higher than in the native institutions. At the same time, there has been a gradual and steady erosion of that trust over the years, he warned, summarizing:
"In Bulgaria, pro-European sentiments continue to prevail, but the challenges to them are by no means few.
Parvan Simeonov also commented on the native political situation:
"Just as a new right appeared, which is not the SDS, in the person of Borisov, for example, sooner or later a new left, which is not the BSP, will also begin to appear. Vanya Grigorova is a good symptom of this. The left is beginning to fragment, to disintegrate.
In this context, the sociologist also sees Elena Yoncheva's decision to accept the DPS nomination as a candidate for MEP.
According to him, however, the more something falls apart, the easier it can later be homogenized under the leadership of someone else, for example Rumen Radev.
"Ninova continued to administer the same medicine that energized, purified the party. From one moment on, any overdosed medicine turns into poison," explained Simeonov.
He does not expect a high voter turnout in the upcoming elections and predicts the same as in the previous elections. Activity in Bulgaria picked up when a new big player entered, and there is none at the moment, said Parvan Simeonov. In his words "Revival" it can be a disappointment, but it can also be a surprise. And for DPS, he expressed the opinion that Delyan Peevski will do his best.