Bulgaria’s political turmoil continues after election fails to get clear result

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/05/bulgaria-election-fails-get-clear-result

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Bulgaria looked for further political instability after snap elections to create the country’s third government in less than two years failed to produce a clear result.

Exit polls on Sunday put strongman former premier Boyko Borisov’s right-wing GERB party in first place but with only 33.2% of the vote and 90 seats in the 240-seat parliament – 31 seats short of a majority.

In second place were the Socialists with 16.5% and 45 seats, followed by the Turkish minority party MRF on 14.1% and 38 seats. Both parties backed the previous technocrat government that collapsed in July.

Four other parties cleared the 4% hurdle, reducing the number of seats for the big parties and making the formation of government difficult in a highly fragmented parliament.

Any new government would have its work cut out to put the EU’s poorest country back on track.

The average monthly salary in the country of 7.4 million people is the equivalent of 400 euros (£313), and seven years after joining the EU every fifth household lives below the poverty line.

Economic growth is sluggish and there are major worries about Bulgaria’s financial system, with tens of thousands of customers at the fourth-largest bank unable to withdraw funds since June because it is under investigation on suspicions of money-laundering.

“There shouldn’t be such a great difference between us and other countries. Bulgaria should not be the poorest country, we have the resources and the capabilities,” pensioner Radka Alexandrova, 87, told AFP after voting. “It’s up to the government.”

Undermining faith in democracy in ex-communist Bulgaria – and earning criticism from Brussels – is the perception that a well-connected clique are still lining their pockets and are above the law.

Anger at corruption and poverty erupted in nationwide protests that saw several people set themselves on fire. The unrest prompted former bodyguard Borisov to resign as prime minister in February 2013.

The subsequent technocrat government installed by the Socialists fared little better, and after 14 months of almost constant demonstrations it too threw in the towel in July, paving the way for the latest election.

For analyst Vassil Tonchev, head of the Sova-Harris institute, the only solution will be a sort of grand coalition involving both Borisov’s party, the Socialists and several others.

“There are unpopular decisions that need to be taken. Public opinion will accept [a] government like this in the hope that they can stabilise the situation. It needs to be formed with a clear programme and for a limited period of time.”

“It is the only option. Anything else would lead to chaos.”

The new government, in addition to boosting the economy and tackling corruption and organised crime, will also have to pull off a delicate balancing act when it comes to Sofia’s external relations.

On the one hand, Bulgaria needs to maintain its traditionally strong connections to Russia, the source practically all its gas needs, tourists and investors.

But at the same time, it needs to keep in with Brussels, which together with Washington wants Bulgaria to loosen its ties with Moscow because of the Ukraine crisis.

Russia’s new South Stream gas pipeline is due to go through Bulgaria, but in June – under Western pressure because of the Ukraine crisis – the Nato member suspended construction.