Bulgarian parliamentary elections: now what?
Bulgaria's fifth parliamentary elections in two years have failed to resolve the political impasse in the country. The centre-right alliance under former prime minister Boyko Borisov and the pro-Western liberal-conservative bloc of ex-premier Kiril Petkov each garnered about a quarter of the vote. Commentators alternate between optimism and frustration.
Another failed election
Sega doubts Bulgarian democracy:
“After Sunday's election, which for the fifth time produced a tie between the two major political alliances, it is abundantly clear that we have a systemic flaw in the Bulgarian parties that renders the most democratic thing in the world - elections - a futile effort, and beyond that a disaster for the state. ... We cast our vote, but no government is formed, then we cast our vote again, and again there is no government. We could go on like this until we have ruined the country entirely. So the people who have led the major parties in recent years should simply disappear - as quickly as possible.”
Bulgarians want a broad coalition government
Trud offers a solution to the stalemate:
“Voters want a government based on broad public and parliamentary support. Now we will see how politically mature the two leading established parties are in bringing this about. ... Bulgaria has been in a relentless political crisis for two years without a goal, without a clear direction. ... We now need a functioning governing formula. ... Party egoism must take a back seat, at least for the time being. We have let them argue for two years. Now it's time for negotiations, it's time for a cabinet.”
Israel scenario
Spotmedia fears for the future of the country:
“The situation in Sofia can be compared to that in Israel, where after several rounds of elections and a historic success in ousting Benjamin Netanyahu, it a government without the long-time prime minister was achieved. But now things have gone back to the way they were before and the regime is taking on increasingly autocratic tendencies. Similarly, the Bulgarians decided to break away from the Borisov monopoly and try out a pro-European government. ... But as in Israel, the political alternative didn't even have a whole mandate to show its competence, and this against the background of successive crises: pandemic, war, and socio-economic woes.”