EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion
I met Vlado ten years ago in the bar on the corner of Rakovska and Vasil Levski. He came on a motorbike and quickly asked me about pressing economic and political issues – I was in a sort of interview. Karolev was running for mayor and was looking for a campaign collaborator, I was recommended to him as his guy – a libertarian.
By that time, he was already a “rock star” and participated in almost every major public debate. He was a true influencer. Not in the conjunctural sense of “posing in front of the camera to sell a product,” but someone with real influence. Not so much on the tax rate or the next election (although Karolev's word weighed heavily there too), but on people’s thinking, on the software of the Matrix, on the Overton Window.
A mutual friend wrote it well – Vlado single-handedly wiped out left-wing economic thought in Bulgaria for 15 years. It got to the point that desperate unionists would come to fight him in front of the studios. Things became so unbalanced that supposedly right-wing colleagues had to bend over backwards and (in search of a living) explain myths and legends on the morning blocks. The rest, the leftists, Karolev retired or converted to the right faith.
At the same time, if he assessed someone as quality and deserving, he pushed them forward with all his might. The last time we saw each other was in his natural hunting habitat - the airwaves of BNT. Find and play this show, and there, as on day one, Vlado explained how much I understand and gave me a chance to talk. He caught people like me in front of the audience of one of the largest television stations, and simply gave us his brilliance.
And he had a lot of brilliance, not reflected, but the most genuine, original. He produced it through several of his qualities. First of all, he was fearless and when the rest of us were trembling with worry about Covid-19, he stormed the insane blockade of Bansko. Second, he had a great sense of trend, one of the few people who, without question and despite the sociological data, knew that Trump would become president in 2016. Third, endless curiosity and I wanted to learn new things – it wasn't PhDs, CFA, seminars, books, just look at his titles on LinkedIn. And fourth, his inexhaustible energy, Vlado was 30 years older than me, I could never help him. This man had at least two more lifetimes!
It is no coincidence that a large part of the deals with international investors went through consultation with him. Foreigners trusted him to know exactly what was happening in our country and not be shocked by corruption and racketeering upon entering the country. Vlado not only talked and studied about economics and business, but also actively participated in them, unlike many of us desk researchers with big mouths.
It's hard to limit Karolev to one post, but the story of the black johnny is telling. After making a bet with dozens of people (many strangers) on "one black johnny" that Trump would win the election - Vlado collected his winnings and organized a huge party, at which he treated himself to his newly acquired lifetime supply of whiskey. This gave birth to another meme of his - we all know about leaving the studio when he is told nonsense - once the election comes, the currency for betting on Facebook is a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label.
In fact, his unique style has been massively copied and thus has been absorbed into a whole generation of public figures - economists, journalists, activists, PR people. Without him (and Mika Zaikova) the genre of "debate in the morning block" would not exist. Libertarianism, as we know it today in Bulgaria, would not be here without Vladimir Karolev, without his courageous defense of unpopular ideas, without his style of no-bullshit activism (completely unsuitable for our obedient politicians), without his direct (including financial) assistance to the Bulgarian Libertarian Society.
Like any legend, Vlado left too soon. We, his students, like-minded people and friends, will remember him and move forward boldly, as only he has shown us. We will sip black johnny and look to the peaks where he is forever.
P.P. We really need to write to the manufacturers of the johns, it's unlikely anyone has ever done a more viral advertising campaign. He deserves a Karolev special edition!
Vkado Colossus was his nickname from his school days and indeed he later achieved colossal levels in the economic sphere! May his soul rest in peace!