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.
Shall We Back...Collectively?
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Socialist leader and PM nominee Sergey Stanishev remained facing a half-empty parliamentary hall after MPs from five parties walked out when he began his address. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)
By Despina Koleva
Bulgaria's young 40th National Assembly has been faced with a profound problem. If one is to judge by politicians' claims, the country's electorate has every right to believe goody-goody MPs have spent many a sleepless night brooding over a fundamental question-to back or not to back.
To elaborate on the matter, the verb "to back" has various meanings. However, those that had concerned Bulgarian society the most until Tuesday's parliamentary session, at which MPs were supposed to express their choice concerning the draft Cabinet, had come down to the following:
a) to support
b) to go backwards
Simple as it might seem to the naked eye, the issue has constituted a true ruse. Shall Bulgarian parliament back a minority government between the June 25 winners, Socialist Coalition for Bulgaria, and the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms? If yes, would that be a big step back? Or, on the other hand, would the country go backwards in case Parliament fails to approve the draft cabinet?
These questions have by all accounts haunted the already tired minds of politicians, depriving them from the right to a well-earned rest after an epic battle for votes. To prove the point, the news for certain MP's ministerial nomination overtook him on the sunny beaches of Greece, putting an ignominious end to his vacation.
Yet, Tuesday has brought a whole new tint to the meaning of the verb "to back" in Bulgarian political space. That is, shall we turn our collective back to Socialist leader and PM nominee Sergey Stanishev, walk out of the parliamentary hall and possibly go deeper in the quagmire of the "Shall we?" questions.
For the first, and quite possibility the last time, the seemingly irremediably split opponents of a Socialist-led minority government have united in a deafeningly positive answer.
Still, their satisfaction over the collective decision is doomed to be short-lived. For if the Socialist mandate fails, the "shall we back?" query will hit them even harder in the face. And it is quite probable, not to say positive, that they turn their backs to unanimity this time.
Loquacity apart, the issue deserves a proper study. Rightfully or not, MPs from five political forces have allegedly decided to back out of the parliamentary hall due to the actions of Parliamentary Speaker Georgi Pirinski. They have claimed Pirinski has violated the National Assembly's regulations.
So far so good. But what is likely to happen if Stanishev returns the mandate? A simple, though hardly attractive answer emerges right away-early elections.
Although some political leaders have denied the possibility, sound judgment points fair chances in favor of a new ballot. In case the left-wingers fail to form a government, mandate goes to June 25 runner-up, Simeon II National Movement (SIINM).
But who is to be their ally? Certainly not the Turks' party, as its leader, Ahmed Dogan, vehemently refused to back a SIINM-led government Monday. Dogan even went on to say he would retain the Socialists' draft cabinet in case he is handed the government formation mandate.
Having used up their chances in the left, the next logical thing SIINM could do is turn to Bulgaria's right-wingers, Even so, simple arithmetic points that the centrist faction and the three rightist parties in parliament do not have the necessary seats to form a joint draft cabinet. Still, they could charm nationalist Attack into joining their ranks. However, sound reason rules this one out as well.
Following this line of thought, one might conclude the third mandate will have an even slimmer survival chance. And again, the prospect of early elections looms over Bulgaria.
No doubt, the prospect of an early vote has troubled Bulgaria's restless political mental gear. Some opponents of a Socialist-led minority government have at one point or another joyfully embraced the idea. What they have failed to embrace, though, has been a realist and practicable approach on how to deal in case of early elections.
Lost in gloating, they seem to have bypassed the point that should the worst-case scenario occur, all political forces ought to undertake the burden of pulling the country out of the mess. And if they fail, we will all go backwards...collectively.
Bulgaria's young 40th National Assembly has been faced with a profound problem. If one is to judge by politicians' claims, the country's electorate has every right to believe goody-goody MPs have spent many a sleepless night brooding over a fundamental question-to back or not to back.
To elaborate on the matter, the verb "to back" has various meanings. However, those that had concerned Bulgarian society the most until Tuesday's parliamentary session, at which MPs were supposed to express their choice concerning the draft Cabinet, had come down to the following:
a) to support
b) to go backwards
Simple as it might seem to the naked eye, the issue has constituted a true ruse. Shall Bulgarian parliament back a minority government between the June 25 winners, Socialist Coalition for Bulgaria, and the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms? If yes, would that be a big step back? Or, on the other hand, would the country go backwards in case Parliament fails to approve the draft cabinet?
These questions have by all accounts haunted the already tired minds of politicians, depriving them from the right to a well-earned rest after an epic battle for votes. To prove the point, the news for certain MP's ministerial nomination overtook him on the sunny beaches of Greece, putting an ignominious end to his vacation.
Yet, Tuesday has brought a whole new tint to the meaning of the verb "to back" in Bulgarian political space. That is, shall we turn our collective back to Socialist leader and PM nominee Sergey Stanishev, walk out of the parliamentary hall and possibly go deeper in the quagmire of the "Shall we?" questions.
For the first, and quite possibility the last time, the seemingly irremediably split opponents of a Socialist-led minority government have united in a deafeningly positive answer.
Still, their satisfaction over the collective decision is doomed to be short-lived. For if the Socialist mandate fails, the "shall we back?" query will hit them even harder in the face. And it is quite probable, not to say positive, that they turn their backs to unanimity this time.
Loquacity apart, the issue deserves a proper study. Rightfully or not, MPs from five political forces have allegedly decided to back out of the parliamentary hall due to the actions of Parliamentary Speaker Georgi Pirinski. They have claimed Pirinski has violated the National Assembly's regulations.
So far so good. But what is likely to happen if Stanishev returns the mandate? A simple, though hardly attractive answer emerges right away-early elections.
Although some political leaders have denied the possibility, sound judgment points fair chances in favor of a new ballot. In case the left-wingers fail to form a government, mandate goes to June 25 runner-up, Simeon II National Movement (SIINM).
But who is to be their ally? Certainly not the Turks' party, as its leader, Ahmed Dogan, vehemently refused to back a SIINM-led government Monday. Dogan even went on to say he would retain the Socialists' draft cabinet in case he is handed the government formation mandate.
Having used up their chances in the left, the next logical thing SIINM could do is turn to Bulgaria's right-wingers, Even so, simple arithmetic points that the centrist faction and the three rightist parties in parliament do not have the necessary seats to form a joint draft cabinet. Still, they could charm nationalist Attack into joining their ranks. However, sound reason rules this one out as well.
Following this line of thought, one might conclude the third mandate will have an even slimmer survival chance. And again, the prospect of early elections looms over Bulgaria.
No doubt, the prospect of an early vote has troubled Bulgaria's restless political mental gear. Some opponents of a Socialist-led minority government have at one point or another joyfully embraced the idea. What they have failed to embrace, though, has been a realist and practicable approach on how to deal in case of early elections.
Lost in gloating, they seem to have bypassed the point that should the worst-case scenario occur, all political forces ought to undertake the burden of pulling the country out of the mess. And if they fail, we will all go backwards...collectively.
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