Former President Plevneliev Warns of Divisions in Bulgaria’s Politics, Defends Peevski

Rosen Plevneliev, who served as Bulgaria's president from 2012 to 2017, expressed skepticism about the prospects of forming a regular government following the early parliamentary elections in October. In an interview with BGNES, he revealed his concerns about the current political landscape in the country, particularly regarding the upcoming election of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Plevneliev pointed out that the political parties in Bulgaria would likely stick to their entrenched positions, emphasizing division rather than cooperation. "From the very first day of the new parliament, each party will draw clear dividing lines, with each nominating their own candidate for Speaker," he said. He described this as a "tragic" scenario, where the fundamental democratic principles and traditions built over the years are being undermined.

The former president noted that this political environment could lead to further division and populism. He lamented that Bulgaria might face a future of ongoing political instability, warning that a sustainable formula for forming a government seemed unlikely. Plevneliev also expressed his belief that small political parties in the parliament should encourage the two leading political forces to find common ground, as they were the ones with the greatest mandate from the electorate.

However, he was not optimistic about this happening, as he predicted that the situation would remain challenging and divisive. He feared that the political discourse would be marred by heavy populism, which would poison the democratic process. Plevneliev further criticized the actions of "We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria" (WCC-DB), particularly their declaration of a "sanitary cordon" around...