How many Times were Diplomatic Relations between Russia and Bulgaria Severed
If we look at history, there are not many cases in which relations between Bulgaria and Russia at the state level were as bad as they are at the moment.
King's Gambits
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Simeon Saxe-Coburg demonstrated as usual unshakeable patience, playing a waiting game. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)
By Milena Hristova
The nearly month-long labours of Bulgaria's three most popular parties to form a government have failed to deliver. A miscarriage brought by former king and outgoing prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg who could not swallow the bitter pill of letting go his post.
But it would not have fit his blue blood to drop plans for long political longevity.
Preserving his stance of a king who rules the situation, rather than a statesman, who tries to adapt to it, he demonstrated as usual unshakeable patience, playing a waiting game. While everybody from his entourage looked like those people from Andersen's fairy tale who, cheering like mad, saw just what they were supposed to see.
Talks between the Socialists, the Simeon II National Movement and the predominantly ethnic Turkish party looked like nothing Bulgarians have witnessed so far. Not only did the parties trampled on all principles and programs, related to their ideologies (socialists together with monarchists!), but also changed the vote of the electorate.
The king's farewell from the three-way pack was predictable to say the least. For one, he himself vowed not to ally with the Socialists before the elections, even though articulated it in his particular style - sparing of words and ambiguous. What is more, Simeon's opponent Stanishev is a novice in playing the political game of cards. Though he was dealt the strongest card after mustering the highest number of votes in the June 25 elections, his lack of experience made a defeat in the card play very probable.
If only Stanishev had guessed the former king will not lay his cards on the table before the end of the game!
Now he seems to have finally come to his senses as the functioning of the whole state has been grounded to a halt for nearly a month already.
"Simeon II National Movement have obviously acted so far to prevent us from forming a government," Stanishev said Friday, adding that should early elections become imminent, it is the former king to blame.
If that scenario unfolds, the parliament could break down into even more parliamentary groups. One or two more parties could gain enough votes to enter the unicameral chamber, which is already fragmented enough with its seven parliamentary groups. Small wonder! The utter lack of principles that the main parties demonstrated will certainly make it extremely difficult for the voter to identify with any political power.
It does not bode well for the stability of a country if the political power is in patches. Nor does it bode well, if a governing coalition is built on unscrupulous compromises.
Such seems to be the coalition that the Socialists will try to build over the weekend. Mustering a total of 116 votes in parliament together with the predominantly ethnic Turkish party the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the Socialists seem determined to fish for anywhere to find another 5 for the June 26 vote in Parliament. The nationalist party Ataka comes into the picture here, as their votes can become crucial. But even it is formed and approved by parliament, stable will be the last word to describe such a government.
In the meantime, the rightists believe prospects for a right-centrist government are gaining strength.
Whatever scenario unfolds, Friday's outgoing incumbents' decision deals a hard blow to the chances for a stable government. Could such a government knuckle down to fight corruption and reform the judicial system? Sounds like milking a ram to me.
The nearly month-long labours of Bulgaria's three most popular parties to form a government have failed to deliver. A miscarriage brought by former king and outgoing prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg who could not swallow the bitter pill of letting go his post.
But it would not have fit his blue blood to drop plans for long political longevity.
Preserving his stance of a king who rules the situation, rather than a statesman, who tries to adapt to it, he demonstrated as usual unshakeable patience, playing a waiting game. While everybody from his entourage looked like those people from Andersen's fairy tale who, cheering like mad, saw just what they were supposed to see.
Talks between the Socialists, the Simeon II National Movement and the predominantly ethnic Turkish party looked like nothing Bulgarians have witnessed so far. Not only did the parties trampled on all principles and programs, related to their ideologies (socialists together with monarchists!), but also changed the vote of the electorate.
The king's farewell from the three-way pack was predictable to say the least. For one, he himself vowed not to ally with the Socialists before the elections, even though articulated it in his particular style - sparing of words and ambiguous. What is more, Simeon's opponent Stanishev is a novice in playing the political game of cards. Though he was dealt the strongest card after mustering the highest number of votes in the June 25 elections, his lack of experience made a defeat in the card play very probable.
If only Stanishev had guessed the former king will not lay his cards on the table before the end of the game!
Now he seems to have finally come to his senses as the functioning of the whole state has been grounded to a halt for nearly a month already.
"Simeon II National Movement have obviously acted so far to prevent us from forming a government," Stanishev said Friday, adding that should early elections become imminent, it is the former king to blame.
If that scenario unfolds, the parliament could break down into even more parliamentary groups. One or two more parties could gain enough votes to enter the unicameral chamber, which is already fragmented enough with its seven parliamentary groups. Small wonder! The utter lack of principles that the main parties demonstrated will certainly make it extremely difficult for the voter to identify with any political power.
It does not bode well for the stability of a country if the political power is in patches. Nor does it bode well, if a governing coalition is built on unscrupulous compromises.
Such seems to be the coalition that the Socialists will try to build over the weekend. Mustering a total of 116 votes in parliament together with the predominantly ethnic Turkish party the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the Socialists seem determined to fish for anywhere to find another 5 for the June 26 vote in Parliament. The nationalist party Ataka comes into the picture here, as their votes can become crucial. But even it is formed and approved by parliament, stable will be the last word to describe such a government.
In the meantime, the rightists believe prospects for a right-centrist government are gaining strength.
Whatever scenario unfolds, Friday's outgoing incumbents' decision deals a hard blow to the chances for a stable government. Could such a government knuckle down to fight corruption and reform the judicial system? Sounds like milking a ram to me.
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