Bulgaria Nationalists Accuse Rivals of Stealing Ideas

The leaders of the parties that form part of Bulgaria's nationalist United Patriots coalition - the National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria, NFSB, VMRO and the extreme-right Ataka party, have accused their mainstream rivals of copying their key ideas ahead of the elections on March 26.

"We have seen an incredible coincidence between the statements of the leaders of [the leading centre-right ] GERB party and the BSP [Bulgarian Socialist Party] and our own programme," Valeri Simeonov, president of the NFSB, said on Monday.

He added that these political forces in Bulgaria did not aim to fulfill their commitments, but only to take the power and abuse it.

The leaders of the coalition, which according to polls is now Bulgaria's third political power, filed the appropriate documentation to take part in the upcoming elections on Sunday.

Gearing up for a close battle, GERB and BSP presented their electoral programs over the past week, competing for the trust of voters with bold promises in the social and economic spheres.

GERB promised last Friday to make education its key priority, followed by guaranteeing justice and security for all citizens.

Although its previous government failed to push through an anti-corruption law, and it stumbled in introducing effective judicial reform, the party has pledged to create a specialized anti-corruption body to fight high-level graft.

Vladislav Goranov, a former minister of finance, said the minimum monthly wage would rise from 460 leva [around 230 euros] to 650 leva [around 330 euros] while the average wage would rise to 1,500 leva.

Among GERB's other promises are the introduction of a voluntary military service, modernizing the air force and building new highways and transport...