Radev gives the USA, China, Russia as examples. How will he combine these views with his demand for "oligarchy abroad", which is an integral part of the model in Russia, or for the rule of law that Trump politicizes?
In Rumen Radev's first speech after leaving the presidency, it is difficult to understand how authentic he is. He sounds like a light version of Orban, Trump and Vucic at the same time, with a language of sovereignty in which the United Europe is a problem, power is an argument, and the hegemons the USA, China and Russia are role models.
Radev, who left the presidential institution on January 23, participated in the Sofia Economic Forum, to which he was invited as head of state. On social networks, sympathizers criticized him for not being more harsh on the EU, while supporters of the European consensus criticized him for following the rhetoric of authoritarian populism.
USA, China and Russia as an example
Radev's speech lasted about twenty minutes, and 2/3 of it was dedicated to Europe in the eyes of geopolitics and its weaknesses, the last third - to Bulgarian destinies. In the end, however, he noted the effectiveness of regional interactions and alliances, such as cooperation with Greece on various projects during his 9-year term. "I expect this axis to continue towards Romania, because then it will have a much greater scope of stability and prosperity", he said.
Before the 17th minute was up, Radev, until then focused on the problems of Europe, "read" through the American National Security Strategy, spoke about the expulsion of the Bulgarian oligarchy from power and the rule of law. Bulgaria's structural problems were declaratively listed, among others, as "real separation of powers", "working justice", "democratic market mechanisms". For the former president, this is how "we will truly start integrating into the EU and the eurozone" - even if entering there was hasty and with "negative social and economic consequences".
Radev formulates Europe's problems according to an American reading and even offers solutions: more realism and to rely on the economy, not on "ideology" - that's what the USA, China, Russia did. However, he is not such a strategist for the fatherland. Is it because the oligarchy is an integral part of those models of "strong state" that he points to as an example, or because the rule of law is a value of European democracy that he criticizes? A mystery.
Will Radev "drain the swamp"?
President Radev can get by with a blanket listing of the problems. But a program to tackle corruption and expel the oligarchy is expected from politician Radev.
In the election campaign for his first presidential term in 2016, Donald Trump promised to "Drain the Swamp" - a fight against lobbyists, corrupt people and Washington politicians who sell influence and services. In his second term, he got the richest techno-billionaires on board his plane.
What will Radev do? Business is flexible - especially when it depends on the state for the resources of public procurement, permits, regulations, tax policies. Unlike politicians, whose ratings drop when they switch from one political camp to another, adaptation to new realities is important for business. That is why many sponsors will cling to Rumen Radev and his future party, and their previous intermediaries in politics will become redundant.
Rule of law or Trumpist order?
Radev gives as examples the USA, China, Russia, which "are guided by economic benefits, not ideological interests". However, how will he combine these views with his request for the "oligarchy abroad"? Especially since politicians and businesses in Bulgaria are tied to the energy, and not only, interests of oligarchic Russia? What about the rule of law with the politicization of the judicial system and the trampling of civil rights, which is Trump's style, but also of the Bulgarian status quo. Impossible when you point to the original source as a model.
"Interests no longer hide behind values, the agenda is increasingly determined by the US, China and Russia, there will be further conflicts and clashes that will rearrange the spheres of influence", Radev said in his speech, an apotheosis of the right of might.
The only time he mentioned the word "democracy" was to say that the US National Security Strategy found that there is a crisis of democracy in Europe - in addition to "economic decline, cultural depersonalization, political instability and demographic collapse". He did not comment on the crisis of democracy in the US, where federal agents killed two American citizens within 14 days in Minneapolis.
Radev on the path of Vučić and Orbán
Radev also conveniently replaced the principles of international law in the context of the war in Ukraine with suggestions of ideology, which may also be an indication of confusing illegality with lawlessness. According to Radev, "the economy has become one of the first victims of ideology, because the main criteria in the selection and supply of energy raw materials and resources are no longer economic benefits, but ideological correctness".
In addition to downplaying Russian aggression, he continued his line of opposition, albeit not so openly, to sanctions against Russia. ΕS imposes sanctions because a sovereign state is attacked and this legal framework exists regardless of "left and right", "free market versus state control" and other political beliefs. It would be good for the European politician Radev, who so diligently reads American strategies, to take a look at the EU Treaty, which lists the main values: respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, including those of minorities.
But Radev is not the first in Europe to address the "big three". Serbia will preserve its friendship with China, Russia and the USA, Serbian President Vučić announced six months ago. Similar rhetoric is used by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who likes to boast that of all European countries, Hungary maintains the best relations with Washington, Beijing and Moscow. If this is the direction for Radev, then we are crossing out the rule of law, and the oligarchy remains.
This text expresses the author's opinion and may not coincide with the positions of the Bulgarian editorial office and DV as a whole.