Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has achieved "model student status" among Central and Eastern European leaders, Alexander Andreev writes on Deutsche Welle's website.

The title is a reference to comments by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who has more than once described Borisov as "my golden boy".

Borisov "knows where to find strong [statespeople] - in Brussels, in Berlin (Borisov has a photo of Merkel on his desk), in Washington and in the Vatican," Andreev writes, also recalling: "In a conversation with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Borisov proudly told him, "Three popes have patted me on the head!" EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has also gained notoriety for having kissed Borisov on the forehead."

While Bulgaria's macrofinancial framework is stable and the country accepted mandatory quotas, it also issues statements and takes actions that draw EU approval, with Andreev citing the case with vigilante migrant hunters (who were first commended and then criticized) and the South Stream pipeline which was abandoned (the latter development, however, occurred after a Russian announcement and not after an official statement of rejection coming from Sofia).

At home, Borisov "is able to play the part of a generous father figure who treats his children to new highways or subway stations almost every day" with the help of EU funding, also using the money to wield influence on media outlets.

The article is available here.