Even though a Market Links study sinks the DPS rating - and thus the PP-DB becomes the second power again - in practice, the big difference with GERB remains.
And it remains because GERB gains its trust not because it promises a future for Bulgaria, but because it promises protection to its voters for their current status. That is, no one wants change there.
And the PP-DB is far behind because it promises change, but so far cannot convince more people that they need it or can bring about the change they need.
Economist Evgeny Kanev wrote this on his Facebook page. Here's more from his comment:
There are still a few months until the elections and there would be a chance for change only if PP-DB are close to GERB again. This change can happen most quickly only with new faces and strong actions on the current problems of the state. Apart from the big politics (earlier called justice), there is a need for bright action on the small politics related to the daily problems of the people - the fires, the drought, the series of blasts, the jigits on the roads, the police violence, etc. Just as there was a big response from the law about domestic violence.
But something more important - at the moment, a truly tactical (according to Hristo Ivanov) cooperation is needed to remove Peevski from the political scene, which will unblock the political process. No matter how crazy it sounds - in the foreseeable future the only chance for a government is PP-DB with GERB and DPS, but emancipated by Peevski.
The logic is not simply Euro-Atlantic, although that is secondary. First in importance is the preservation of the parliamentary republic. And Borisov and Dogan will protect it, because that is where their political power comes from.
Note - Radev's power comes not from the parliament, but from his position as a broker in the political process. And he may soon regain his ground lost in the constitutional amendments by appointing two new justices to replace two who have expired but supported limiting his powers. In this context, Radev will lose motivation to enter the field, and will seek to eliminate the parliamentary republic by blocking the possibility of forming governments. And to rule ex officio. For this purpose, he will use as many as four (!) parties, which would gain power through their official ministers, rather than through the parliamentary way.
Insofar as ITN, Vazrazhdane and Velichie are frankly destructive parties that block any pro-European and pro-democratic reforms, they are wonderful accomplices of Radev, and they are probably commanded by the same center. On the Russian model, they all want a state apparatus with a strong leader - and just like the out-of-control attorney general - that leader is used for Russian geopolitical purposes. It is very likely that the BSP will join this camp. Note - the new temporary leader Gutsanov is from Varna. Kopeikin is also from Varna. Ivelin Mihailov is also from Varna. Only Slavi is not from Varna, but he is from the Plovdiv circle of the honorary Russian consul, to which Radev also belongs.
And if we draw the line - we can only hope for the emancipated Borisov and Dogan, who are still considered by the West as allies - Kyuchuk became the head of the legal committee of the European Parliament, and Radev (GERB) is his deputy. Gabriel is being groomed for a high post in NATO.
And so, until the PP-DB - if it survives - learns how to win elections.