Two former friends and martial arts exponents are now locking horns for the political spoils in Bulgaria.... Who will be the Conqueror?

Both men are ambitious, shrewd, well – connected and have the same level of disdain for each other..... repugnance!

This week Aleksei Petrov was released from house arrest after spending eight months in police custody and four months within the confines of his home. During this time he has been accused of various serious crimes that have changed as each week went by, but still after one year no charges have been made, only insinuations and inferences.

Does this state of affairs sound a familiar pattern with pending legal matters in Bulgaria and was it politically motivated?

During his confinement Petrov has been very busy and used his connections to good use, by allegedly discrediting the second highest member of the government- Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who has been behind all the high profile arrests including his. He has also flirted with the idea of starting his new political party and now will be running for President in the forthcoming elections, with Borisov's nemesis - Georgi Parvanov and the Bulgarian Socialists Parties blessing and help. New political alliances are already being formulated.

The latest Tapegate controversies have also been attributed to friends and associates of Petrov.

It has also not gone unnoticed that Lord Peter Goldsmith the former UK Attorney General and one of the top litigation lawyers in Europe, has also visited Petrov at his home. Expect lots of writs and claims against the Bulgarian government in the forthcoming months, for wrongful arrest and infringements of human rights etc etc!

So far Borisov has been very quite and maybe is now planning his strategy, but for sure he will be a tough adversary, no push over and will come out fighting. I'm sure that he will go head to head with Petrov for the Presidency, his ego and  fledgling political party cannot give this new unholy - alliance, the opportunity to establish its power base with a new President!!

One thing is for sure, the next few months are going to be interesting to observe and the war of words forceful, but whether Bulgarian politics will change- that's another question?

Keith Gregory

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