EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion
Author: Nikola Genov
Prime Minister Borisov has proven in his long political career that he is extremely consistent in his inconsistency. Many analysts, both well-meaning towards his governments and opposition-minded, recognize his political acumen. His ability to be a weather vane of public storms is probably the main reason why ten years of political scandals have not been able to finally remove the former mayor of Sofia from power. Let us look at the latest examples of crisis PR, or as Mr. Borisov himself calls it: “The GERB Standard” [1].
According to the sociological agency Market Links, 60% of people view the Eurovote through the prism of Apartmentgate [2]. The negative blow that the scandal dealt to GERB exceeded even the most daring expectations of the opposition forces, developing into a political tsunami that far exceeded the boundaries of the GERB Party. The list of politicians exposed with cheap apartments, raising suspicions of heavy power trading, is so long that the chroniclers of the modern political situation could fill the entire facade of the Golden Age skyscraper, similar to the painted letters on the Lettera building.
However, what is impressive in the suppression and control of the scandal that broke out? On the one hand, the hypocritical, brazen and impudent behavior of the participants in it. The behavior of Tsvetan Tsvetanov and his associates clearly outraged Bulgarian society. Boyko Borisov's decision was the usual one - resignations. However, here comes the interesting part - how they were requested, to whom, with what motives.
The Tsvetanov case:
" He had two luxury apartments that he once fought for. And now, right now, when we gave so many millions for pensioners and everything has sunk, he has exchanged them for an apartment of plaster and stucco! But I am very angry! "
Obviously, the timing is inappropriate – it should have been before the money was given to the pensioners or after, probably. Beyond the anger caused by the Prime Minister, the development of the case shows that the attitude towards the former Interior Minister's flair for real estate in GERB is unclear. On the one hand, his resignation as a member of parliament is accepted, on the other hand, he is innocent and this is a political attack aimed at tarnishing the party's clean name. For this reason, Tsvetan Tsvetanov was left as the head of the election headquarters. The logical question is what the attitude towards the incident will ultimately be – is Tsvetanov guilty or innocent according to his party colleagues?
The situation is similar with other participants in the scandal, who parted with their current posts, but did not lose their trust and positions within the party itself. Since there are plenty of such incidents, let's focus on the Prime Minister's latest statement, namely about the "Standard GERB", with which we began:
“The GERB standard is this: if they convict her, if she is guilty… Because we don’t prosecute like that, the Urbuleska way, because that’s how it should be.” [3]
In other words – all those who left are guilty and punished, therefore Apartmentgate is not just a political attack, but evidence of corruption and lack of morality in the ruling party. However, Ms. Nikolina Angelkova, attacked by GERB’s coalition partner – Valeri Simeonov, has not been convicted, like Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Tsetska Tsacheva, etc., therefore she is still in her post. There is logic and consistency.
There is logic and consistency, but not the one that the Prime Minister is referring to. There is the logic and consistency of the overall model of GERB's governance in the last ten years - we solve all kinds of problems with resignations. First of the more secondary cadres, then of the primary ones, and finally, if the knife is pressed to the bone - and of the government itself. A strategy that has been successfully used many times.
The same consistency and persistence are also noticeable in the party's refusal to reform and impose a different model of governance than the established one. Borisov continues to stubbornly treat his government, which is sick with corruption and incompetence, with resignations and threats that the BSP ghost will come out of the closet. However, the manner with a human face and the mistake-forgiveness behavior seem increasingly comical. Boyko Borisov's constant change of opinion, the renovations of the capital's boulevards, which have become a byword for the quality of GERB's "visible results", garnished with the involuntary recognition of corruption problems in the government, seem like an epidemic that will require much more serious treatment than a few "Resignation" pills.
[1] https://clubz.bg/82247-borisov_za_ostavkite_nie_ne_gonim_ej_taka_urbuleshkata
[2] https://offnews.bg/analizi-i-komentari/market-links-60-ot-horata-gledat-na-evrovota-prez-prizmata-na-aparta-702017.html
[3] 25.04.2019 https://clubz.bg/82247-borisov_za_ostavkite_nie_ne_gonim_ej_taka_urbuleshkata
