Bulgaria Faces Critical Election Amid Allegations of Kremlin Influence

Bulgaria is preparing for its sixth general election since April 2021, following the refusal of the populist ITN party to form a government. This political instability has been a recurring theme in the country, which has seen five inconclusive parliamentary polls in the past two years.

Why this matters: The outcome of Bulgaria's election will have significant implications for the country's political direction and its stance on corruption and foreign influence. This, in turn, could impact Bulgaria's relations with the European Union and Russia, potentially affecting regional stability.

Georgi Gochev, a professor at New Bulgarian University, has made a striking claim regarding President Rumen Radev's conciliatory tone, suggesting it is part of the Kremlin's influence in Bulgaria. Gochev alleges that the upcoming election presents a choice between Putin's proxies, Borisov and Peevski, and what he describes as 'imperfect politicians' like Denkov, Vasilev, Petkov, and Ivanov.

President Radev is expected to appoint a caretaker government and schedule elections in two months, potentially coinciding with the European Parliament elections on June 9. This development follows the ITN party's decision on March 28 not to form a government.

Since public anger over widespread corruption erupted into massive protests in 2020, Bulgaria has largely been governed by caretaker administrations appointed by President Radev. The country, struggling with corruption and being the poorest among the 27 European Union members, has struggled to establish a stable government.

The latest election on April 2 resulted in a narrow victory for the center-right GERB party, which secured 26.5% of the vote, or 69 seats, in the parliament. The pro-European We Continue the Change Democratic Bulgaria (CCDB) coalition won 24.5%, giving it 64 mandates. The combined 133 seats provide a slim majority in the 240-seat parliament.

On May 22, GERB's nominee for prime minister, Maria Gabriel, and CCDB's leader, Nikolay Denkov, announced an agreement to rotate as head of the government every nine months. This coalition aims to bring some stability to Bulgaria's volatile political environment.

Georgi Gochev's claims add another layer of complexity to Bulgaria's political scene. His assertion that President Radev's approach is influenced by the Kremlin and that the election is a choice between Putin's proxies and imperfect alternatives highlights the deep divisions and external influences at play.

As Bulgaria faces these turbulent times, the upcoming election will be critical in determining the country's political direction and its stance on corruption and foreign influence. The outcome will likely have significant implications for Bulgaria's future within the European Union and its relations with Russia.

Key Takeaways

• Bulgaria prepares for its 6th election since 2021 due to political instability.
• Election outcome will impact Bulgaria's stance on corruption and foreign influence.
• President Radev's conciliatory tone may be influenced by the Kremlin, alleges Georgi Gochev.
• Caretaker government to be appointed, with elections potentially coinciding with EU Parliament elections.
• Election outcome will affect Bulgaria's relations with the EU and Russia, impacting regional stability.