EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion
Unless you live with your head buried on a beach, you can't help but notice the most sensational topic of the last few days - the public "action" of the leader of Democratic Bulgaria Hristo Ivanov, in the luxurious property in Rosenets Park, which is said to belong to the well-known builder of modern Bulgaria - Ahmed Dogan. The property was built illegally on the very shore, on land that is supposedly state-owned and should be accessible to everyone according to the Constitution. These are the accusations, but don't quote me, I'm not a lawyer. The action itself, which was broadcast live on social networks, was summarized by bTV here.
However, that is not what I want to talk about in this article. We have been finding examples of blatant abuses and corruption schemes all over the place lately. In my opinion, there is not much to say on this topic, because it is clear to anyone who does not work for the government and the parties that make it up that there is something extremely wrong with this property. The abuse of power is obvious, and the smell of corruption can be felt even through the monitor (although it smells like that here in general). I would rather pay attention to the reactions, one specific reaction to be precise. That of the Minister of Justice. I draw your attention to the photo below of a post on his Facebook profile. Carefully absorb its content, immerse yourself in the metaphorical poetics.
Source: Danail Kirilov's personal profile
Look, I'm not a literary critic. But I don't think there's anyone with a primary education, let alone a secondary education (God forbid a higher education!) who thinks this is an adequate expression of a position on an otherwise very serious topic. The problem here is not so much in the very essence of Kirilov's publication, which (for someone who can translate from a third-grader) seems to be that Hristo Ivanov fabricated the whole accusation that there was something wrong with the property in question in Rosenets.
Leave the thesis aside, however, and pay attention to everything else. From Kirilov's way of expressing himself, it is clear that the focus here should be on some attempt at...humor? Irony? It is clear that the Minister of Justice was in a creative mood. Alas, as often happens with politicians, his ambition clearly exceeds his talent. How would you qualify Kirilov's attempt to be bitingly funny? What feeling do you experience when reading his literary work?
I personally experience a mixture of feelings, with the most tangible being the most difficult to describe. In English, this feeling has a specific term, which has recently become part of the unique terminology of certain Internet subcultures – "cringe". The specific meaning of this word has no direct equivalent in Bulgarian, but I will try to describe it. In its simplest form, "cringe" is when someone says or does something so pitiful that it provokes an unpleasant physiological reaction in the observer. He tries to do something interesting, witty, remarkable. But, alas, hindered by the limits of his own ability, he falls face down in a puddle.
This reaction is not exactly disgust, although that note can be present (especially in this case). Cringe is a very specific form of indignation, a mixture of mild disgust, a little regret, and most of all, shame. When someone does something "cringe," you feel ashamed of it. Why would you feel ashamed of something someone else does? Because it's so pathetic that it's physically painful for another human being to watch. You feel ashamed that you share a similar genetic code with someone who is "cringe" by some whim of cosmic probability or intentional dark humor of the Creator. "Ugh, cringe, bro." That's the first emotion.
If we have to be nationalist-traditionalists, I think we can most accurately categorize the Justice Minister's publication as "simplicity." This very basic and otherwise simple (heh) term actually has serious semantic depth. Contrary to what most people think, simplicity is not about swearing and being rude. That may make you rude, but it is not enough to qualify you as a simpleton.
Being a simpleton is actually closer to being a fool than to being a brute (smart brute – bol). Doing simpletons is very similar to doing stupid things, but it is not exactly the same. Simpleton is a specific form of stupidity. It is stupidity combined with absolutely undisguised self-confidence and a complete lack of self-awareness. A simpleton is not just a fool, he is someone who does stupid things while at the same time acting as if he clearly thinks he is not a fool. A fool does not know, but he may know that he does not know. A simpleton is firmly convinced that he knows.
And here, after the initial shock of "uh, cringe, bro" and the subsequent swelling contempt for the obvious simplicity, comes the turn of the third emotion - despair. Despair comes because you realize that this person is ruling you. Danail Kirilov is the Minister of Justice, this is one of the people on whom the dispensing of justice in the state most directly depends. And besides the fact that in this case he rushes to defend something that by all indications is a blatant abuse and corruption of state power, he also behaves like a simpleton while doing it.
It is remarkable that apparently no one in power has realized how inadequate this publication is. For Kirilov, it is clear - he can do that much, but the rest? His PR people or the PR people of the party he is a part of (GERB)? Some fellow MP? Some fellow minister? Boyko Borisov himself? For God's sake, how has no one realized how inadequate this is?! Are they also that capable or do they simply not care anymore? Perhaps the shortage of personnel in GERB has really reached critical levels. This party has never been able to cultivate its own adequate personnel, since its very inception, but still. Kirilov himself comes from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and GERB's regular practice for nearly a decade has been to attract valuable personnel from smaller parties with a similar political orientation in the center-right. However, it seems that this well has begun to dry up, because here he is, Danail Kirilov is a minister. And we can all see how capable he is.
At this point, I assume you have noticed that the focus of my comment is not on the fact that Kirilov is defending something that, by all indications, is absolutely indefensible. Although the mockery of citizens, the abuse of power and corruption in this case may seem particularly intrusive, this is not even the biggest problem for me. In our country, these things are a given. Bulgarians are born realpolitikers. We all know, at least on an instinctive level, that politics is a huge scheme for robbery. Corruption, abuse, theft – all this is a given. We will be ruled by thieves and fraudsters – this is a given. In politics, the worst are those who reach the top, as Hayek explained.
What is offensive in this case, however, is the simplicity. Because it is one thing to be ruled by thieves and fraudsters. It is another to be ruled by thieves and fraudsters who, on top of everything, are also idiots. This is already very desperate.
