Monday, May 21, 2007
Bulgarians are truly disappointed
In a previous posting my colleague quoted the Mayor of Sofia, Boyko Borisov, as saying that the Bulgarians were truly disappointed with the political classes, not least the European ones for not controlling the corrupt mess that Bulgarian politics is.
Well, they have shown their disappointment. For their first ever election to the Toy Parliament, a stupendous 28.6 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote. This is the lowest since 1990. Of course, it is possible that the Bulgarians have already sussed out that voting for the Toy Parliament is even more of a mug's game than voting in domestic elections.
On preliminary figures, Borisov's own opposition party, the centre-right GERB (Citizens for Bulgaria's European Development) is marginally in the lead with 21.69 per cent of votes cast, followed by the ruling Socialist Party that has 21.41 per cent.
The Nationalist "Attack" Party won 14.22 per cent and ex-King Simeon's Liberals 6.26 per cent. The final announcement and division of spoils (18 seats in the Toy Parliament) will follow shortly.
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Well, they have shown their disappointment. For their first ever election to the Toy Parliament, a stupendous 28.6 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote. This is the lowest since 1990. Of course, it is possible that the Bulgarians have already sussed out that voting for the Toy Parliament is even more of a mug's game than voting in domestic elections.
On preliminary figures, Borisov's own opposition party, the centre-right GERB (Citizens for Bulgaria's European Development) is marginally in the lead with 21.69 per cent of votes cast, followed by the ruling Socialist Party that has 21.41 per cent.
The Nationalist "Attack" Party won 14.22 per cent and ex-King Simeon's Liberals 6.26 per cent. The final announcement and division of spoils (18 seats in the Toy Parliament) will follow shortly.
COMMENT THREAD
Labels: Bulgaria
Sunday, December 31, 2006
They can stick their blue flags ....
At midnight tonight, with the dawn of the New Year, Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union, bringing it to 27 members. But that means more than them joining a cosy little club. It means that Romanians and Bulgarians have the right to enter our country. They do not, as yet, have a right to work here – unless they are self-employed – but who is checking?It does mean, though, that their governments become part of our government. Romania and Bulgaria will supply officials, high and low, to the EU commission, which makes decisions on how we in England are required to run our affairs. Their ministers join the Council of Ministers, which decides which laws are adopted, and their heads of government become members of the European Council – and decide on "European" political strategy. For that privilege, we also pay several more billions into the kitty.
The funny thing is, I do not ever remember being asked - not by my government or anyone else - if I wanted Romania and Bulgaria as part of my government, giving their officials the right to decide on the laws that affect me. And do I mind? Hell yes! I do mind, very much indeed.
Accordingly, I will not be welcoming the latest new members into the "club". I would sooner they and all the rest celebrated our departure from it. In the meantime, they can - as the song goes - stick their blue flags up their .....
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Labels: Bulgaria, enlargement, EU, Romania
