EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion
On Sunday, all of Bulgaria woke up to another peculiar address by the outgoing Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Thank God, this time it was not from the notorious jeep, but took place in the form of a formal press conference. At it, Borisov responded to the demands of the new parliament to appear and present the National Recovery and Resilience Plan by saying that he had resigned as both Prime Minister and MP, which makes him just an “ordinary citizen.” Let’s develop this hypothesis.
Just two weeks earlier, the same “ordinary citizen” was the leader of the GERB party lists in two key electoral districts – 25 MIR in Sofia-city and 16 MIR in Plovdiv-city. In both districts, CEC data shows that GERB is first, winning 24.08% in 25 MIR and 25.49% in 16 MIR. If Mr. Borisov has accidentally forgotten how lists work – these results mean that voters have elected him, him personally, as an MP. You cannot be the face of the election campaign of the party that collects the most votes in the elections one day, and two weeks later say “I give up”. Then why did you run for office at all? Why didn’t you give up your MP seat before? The elections are for a seat in parliament. What are you doing in them if you don’t want it?
When he gives up his seat as a deputy, Borisov rejects the votes of all voters who voted for GERB, at least in the 25th and 16th MIRs, if not in the entire country. The voters who voted for GERB without preference or with a preference for Borisov specifically in these two regions certainly wanted him to represent them in parliament. With this action, Borisov also rejects the votes of many other voters around the country, who, although they voted for lists where he was not at the top, certainly voted for GERB to a significant extent, because he is the leader and face of this party. When he now says that he is an “ordinary citizen,” Borisov betrays the trust of all these people, who are his own voters.
If anyone from GERB has certainly earned their parliamentary seat, it is Borisov. It is hard to imagine that anyone votes for this party because of the charisma and impeccable political reputation of individuals like Tsveta Karayancheva, Toma Bikov or Lacho "The Brain". At this point, GERB is nothing more than a collection of Borisov's appendages who survive on the crumbs that fall from his table (perhaps with one or two exceptions like Tomislav Donchev). We all know it, we all see it.
The degradation of the strongest party in the country for the past 12 years to this pitiful state is the fault of its leader himself. Borisov follows a style of governance in which any risk to the public reputation of GERB and himself is managed by blaming some subordinate - most often a minister. Can anyone count all the "fuses" that Borisov has blown within three government mandates? It is this evasion of responsibility as a leader that is also manifested now that the prime minister-sun, who until a few weeks ago spoke in the first person about built highways, has suddenly turned into an "ordinary citizen".
Over time, such leadership practice leads to the party losing absolutely all even minimally capable personnel that it ever had. Whether because they themselves were "thrown out" by Borisov to protect their own rating, or because, fearing that this would happen, they withdrew themselves. And now what type of people are left in GERB? Just look at their parliamentary group. Who are the most recognizable faces? Names like Toma Bikov and Tsveta Karayancheva.
Toma Bykov, who is perhaps the most infamous turncoat in Bulgarian politics for the last decade. The same one who, from calling for Borisov to be lynched on the yellow cobblestones because he is a "caricature of a dictator", later not only joined GERB, but also became the biggest polisher of the image of his new party leader. Do not doubt that Borisov himself takes a certain pleasure in humiliating Bykov, sending him running like a water carrier in every morning block when GERB needs crisis PR.
What can we say about poor Tsveta Karayancheva, who, after being called by the now sadly worn-out abbreviation "PKP" in a leaked audio recording by a voice sounding suspiciously close to Borisov's, not only did she not leave GERB, but also became an even fiercer defender of the good name of her "leader". Don't even get me started on people like Lacho "The Brain". What are these colorful people doing in parliament now? They stomp on the table like monkeys when they can't get away with it.
By 2021, GERB is Boyko Borisov, Tomislav Donchev, and the rest are better left unmentioned to protect our appetite. In this context, it is extremely indicative that Daniel Mitov, the announced prime minister candidate, joined the party only two weeks before the elections.
But let's get back to Borisov himself. Mr. Prime Minister in resignation, according to the Constitution of Bulgaria, until a new cabinet is elected, you still perform the function of Prime Minister (Art. 111, para. 3 of the Constitution of Bulgaria). This means that the parliament has the right to summon you to your role as a minister. And you are obliged to appear. "Work, work, work", right?
Is this the attitude of the democrat Borisov towards his own voters – rejecting the trust they have voted for him? The same one who, after winning the early elections in 2017, solemnly says“Democracy is not only a privilege, but also an obligation”. Well, come on, fulfill your obligation, Mr. Borisov. You were elected as a member of parliament. You have taken on political responsibility as the leader and leading candidate of the Gerb Party in two of the most important regions in the country. Now bear this responsibility, do not run away from it.
