Unprecedented Witch-Hunting

From hosanna to crucify him – this is in short the portrait of many Bulgarian leaders, but it holds particularly true for Ivan Kostov, leader of die-hard right-wingers DSB.

We heard those words on Monday again.

Kostov's allies in the other right-wing formation UDF triggered a rift, which sent the formerly emblematic party into headlong and fatal fall.

The last rites were delivered when UDF current low-profile leader Emil Kabaivanov happily turned into the prime minister's slave and nominated ex-president Petar Stoyanov for constitutional judge.

As the mavericks, including ex-leader and Kostov's ally Martin Dimitrov, opposed the idea, Kabaivanov just kicked them out.

Bad blood has never run so high in the right-wing, leading to an unprecedented witch-hunting.

The expulsions are said to be cleansing the party, but I can't see any cleansing effect.

For me, Stoyanov's nomination, his decision to consider the offer for three days and the mavericks' expulsions were acts of vanity and stupidity.

It is only on rare occasions that politicians are men of honor. But practice shows this to be the wrong approach to treat the electorate.

Now for both Stoyanov and UDF there is no way back to the big political arena.

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