The thing you become aware of when you first come to Bulgarian is the indifference to most things from the Bulgarian people and their general attitude to life around them. When questioned about this they quote the well-known Bulgarian turn of phrase- "what can we do"?

There doesn't seem to be any signs of insurgency from the people about anything and that's why the vermin (politicians, most people in a position of power and criminals) are robbing everyone. Nothing or no one is untouched by the Bulgarian syndrome of corruption and complacency.

The recent racist attacks on praying Muslims in Sofia have not really resonated with the populous and the response predictably has been small. It's the same with everything here and that's why the cartels and monopolies get away with murder- because they can!!

Bulgaria is the poorest county in the EU (with its wages well below the EU average), but still pays the highest price for its energy. It's a licence to print money for the energy companies here and the regulator is a waste of time and seems content with allowing the increases to go unchallenged. .... Libya and the Arab spring get the blame! It has also been disclosed that Rumen Ovcharov (the former BSP energy minister), was behind the signing of a 23-year natural gas delivery contract with Russian giant Gazprom, on unclear terms and also has murky ties with the Russians. What a surprise!

If the Bulgarians worked out that every time someone cheats the system, it's another hospital not going to be built or refurbished, the same with schools and lots of other basis things that people need desperately in their country to survive... It's self- destructive.

The only signs of dissent for anything come from the Nationalistic parties who yearn for the good old days (in the 7th century), when Bulgaria was respected and a force in Eastern Europe. Well maybe they should be re-writing their manifesto to include things that now need changing here in Bulgaria and not keep going back to the past!

It's a well known fact that the present Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is very thin skinned, hates to be criticised and on lots of occasions has changed his mind when the pressure is applied. So, the people must do just that in force and let the government hear their voices and get rid of the debilitating apathy that is hanging over the country like a noxious cloud.

I don't hold out much hope for a change of direction from the Bulgarians, but the alternative of maintaining the "status – quo" seems retrogressive.

Keith Gregory