"[Reformist Bloc co-Chair Radan Kanev] was very strong before standing by [Bulgarian PM] Boyko Borisov and starting to govern together with him... He was now turned into a chihuahua in his bag. Patriots [the Patriotic Front], who were explaining all the time about how much they would stand up for the people of Sofia are now - let's hope it will not sound insulting - a sausage dog on a leash. From time to time it balks, but goes on where it's being led. And to show I'm not applying double standards, I'll compare myself to a dog and will tell you I'm intending to be the border police dog at the exit of the financial department of Sofia Municipality".

Mariya Kalenderska, the life partner of MEP Nikolay Barekov, commenting on the balance of power in Bulgaria's cabinet at a press conference which Barekov used to announce her bid to become Mayor of Sofia this autumn.

Kalenderska's candidacy is raised by Barekov's Bulgaria without Censorship party, whose support in Parliament dwindled from 14 to 1 lawmaker.

Last year Bulgaria's government was formed as a minority coalition of Boyko Borisov's GERB, a right-wing coalition called Reformist Bloc (Radan Kanev chairs one of its parties) and left-wing ABV. They are backed by a nationalist alliance, the Patriotic Front, which is not part of the cabinet.

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