What lies ahead for Bulgaria in the coming days?
Posted by mikewazoski59@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 120 comments
Posted by mikewazoski59@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 120 comments
AdeptTrip2421@reddit
from a business perspective i'd say the outlook is actually pretty solid. euro adoption is getting closer which will make it even more attractive for company formation. i set up my ood through bulgarian llc last year and the whole infrastructure around banking, accounting and legal support for foreign founders has genuinely improved a lot. good time to get in before it becomes a more expensive jurisdiction.
SendItFellas@reddit
Bulgarians themselves are a lot more pro Russian than Hungarians are (Russia liberated us from the Ottomans vs crushed a Democratic revolution in Hungary 1956) so I reckon that will give Radev a lot of cover domestically for pro-Putin obstructionism. On the other hand, Bulgaria's economy is a lot weaker than Hungary's and more reliant on the EU, so Radev can't go very far against Brussels without crashing the fragile economy and leaving his voters in the mud
ZinbaluPrime@reddit
Boomers and some of Gen X, are really pro-Russia and anti-Turkey, while newer generations are actually the opposite, but the majority of them have 0 interest in politics and don't vote.
Dazzling-Session-181@reddit
I would say that boomers and x-ers are more anti-Russian than the newer generations. We, the younger people can inform ourselves and do not care about the communism scar, while most Russophobes I see are white uncs and grandpas with some personal grudge against Russia.
Frosty-Perception-48@reddit
It's somehow hypocritical to ignore the fact that the Hungarians were considered brutal and cruel in World War II, even compared to the Germans. And yet, modern Hungarians don't even feel remorse for this.
Count_of_Borsod@reddit
My guy you are giving us too much credit. 90% of the hungarian army's input in the invasion of the soviet union was being nearly wiped out in the outskirts of stalingrad
AmbitiousSympathy665@reddit
Wtf is the relation to 1956? Actually reaching this desperately, insane
Majestic_Parsnip3277@reddit
Right, let's start all feeling remorse for something we don't do and can't even physically influence because it happened bazillion years before our birth
Frosty-Perception-48@reddit
Like the US, which punishes Cubans with poverty and hunger? List the European countries that sided with Cuba? And, just for fun, which of these countries were forgiven by the Russians.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
Also, Hungarians have this national trauma about Trianon which we don't (or at least we have, but to a much less degree). This sentiment tends to breed authoritarian figures that promise to restore past glory and stuff like that.
Dazzling-Session-181@reddit
Tralalala - How about minding you own business? lalalalala If you don't like us, get bent. Lalalalala
Kilgorio1@reddit
As a trans person living in Bulgaria, probably not good. The best I can expect is status quo and the most realistic is having to hide when in public to avoid getting arrested for being publicly trans in a place that might have children around at some point, so anywhere.
Besrax@reddit
Radev has been intentionally vague and restrained in his statements in order to not put off too many voters, so we really don't know many details about his plans. If I had to guess, I'd say that he'll be something like Fico. He might further radicalize and transition into an Orban-like figure at some point, but I think that's rather unlikely.
arhisekta92@reddit
idk man he has that balkan corrupt look.. i think he and vučić will be friends
rintzscar@reddit
I doubt he'd be like Fico. I bet he'd be like Meloni.
mikelarteta07@reddit
More like Babis, or the Austrian OVP.
rintzscar@reddit
No, he'll behave like Meloni, trust me.
ok-lazy1@reddit
Meloni 💩
stack413@reddit
I'm guessing that Radev won't become a major issue until some time down the line, when he's lost political support and is looking for something external to prop himself up. At that point, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him cozy up to Russia and throw wrenches into the EU.
That being said, I also wouldn't be horribly surprised if he just immediately ended up taking Russian money and being a shit, for normal corruption reasons.
Dazzling-Key-8282@reddit
There are many politicians who want to pull the Orbán but the overwhelming majority lacks the power to do so. That's the difference. Otherwise it isn't trivial to make it happen.
18w4531g00@reddit
The good: + current corrupt & mafia model is under pressure + no migrant quotas + after this government fails in 8-9 months the only good pro-EU alternative could finally make it
The bad: - Russia tilt - Euro under question now - EU could freeze funds if this government goes the Fico & Orban way - list of the people that would be MPs have long history of jumping into new parties looking only for own benefit with many connected to communist & Peevski formations - some of the people to be MPs are clearly uneducated - money supporring this party's campaign came from people around the most controversial fat figure in the previous model
dwartbg9@reddit
Absolute bullshit
LibertyChecked28@reddit
I want some of what you are smoking.
ThePo0l@reddit
If you truly believe that the Euro is under any question, you clearly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. We've essentially been using Euro for a bit less than 30 years now as the Bulgarian Lev was tied to the Euro. Going back to Lev is literally impossible.
scales_and_fangs@reddit
He can't step back from the euro. Doing so would be a political suicide because the lev, the former national currency, was not a competitive currency since 1997. Doing so will lead to economic collapse and people will overthrow him.
18w4531g00@reddit
Those same people that voted for him? I doubt. They live in a world of their own, believing a small poor country like Bulgaria could lead independent policy.
scales_and_fangs@reddit
Those people will turn against him the moment his policy hits their pockets.
SansBouillie@reddit
Excellent_Jeweler_43@reddit
Bulgaria if alcohol and gambling was never invented
IcyCity3228@reddit
same for serbia
dwartbg9@reddit
Fun fact but a lot of the casinos and companies that are all around the Balkans are coming from us. Many casinos in Serbia, Romania and so on - are actually Bulgarian. Sorry for fucking you up hahah
basedfinger@reddit
but y'all would be boring
Many-Rooster-7905@reddit
Croatia without hdz
Virtual-Image9564@reddit
Actually, this is pure propaganda. Second, Borisov is (was) the "Orban type" in Bulgaria, in terms of controling the country. They are best friends btw. So Radev is not the type. At least, not for now!
dwartbg9@reddit
Excellent_Jeweler_43@reddit
For me all of that is vastly exaggerated. Imo Radev is more similar to Meloni than he is to Orban. We remember how much outrage was about Meloni aswell, but as we saw it didn’t really become as big of a deal as people made it out to be.
Also if anyone bothered to actually check PB’s political programme, most of it is centered around closer integration with the EU and NATO.
johny335i@reddit
Gimme a break with this political programme.
What do you expect for him to say? I'm a russian asset?
Look what people do, not what they say. And everything he has shown us so far as a long time resident, is that he is looking to the east, not to the west.
I hope I'm wrong, I'm just pointing out what kind of a person he was so far.
Glittering-Toe-1622@reddit
Unfortunately, considering how things are going globally, east will be the new west...
ivanp359@reddit
China - probably. Russia - nope
SignificantMeet8747@reddit
he's definitely not closer to Meloni
Radev is a russian puppet, his actions as president have proven it
RustCohle_23@reddit
Meloni is pro Ukraine and Radev is not so this comparison is not right.
ComfortableParty2933@reddit
Good times ahead. Corrupt government is practically gone. The general attorney just resigned since he knows he is going down next.
ExoticAd7546@reddit
Depends if they aim to actually do good reforms (highly unlikely) or just replace people with ones loyal to them. We'll see fast there are no excuses with full majority at least
ComfortableParty2933@reddit
You are basically speculating. We don't know if they are going to keep their word or not, but you could make the same assumption about any other politician and political party.
ExoticAd7546@reddit
Yes as I said we will see. Hope for the best, but ready for the worst. I am personally doubtful considering his history and shady connections
ComfortableParty2933@reddit
What history and shady connections? Also how are they worse than what you got with Borisov and Peevski in the past 17 years?
ExoticAd7546@reddit
The first time he got elected as a representative for the socialist party it was done after the russian institute for socialogical analysis confirmed by Leonid Rashetnikov. in addition, he is affeliated with certain oligarchs in Bulgaria, he had the most expensive campaign with unclear financing but many owners of shady firms were at his rallies etc. In general he has been dividing the people with his actions and statements during his presidency which are usually critisizing the EU and Ukraine and always neutral or positive regarding Russia
palladium2@reddit
More of the same. Radev is more comparable to Magyar, both domestically and outside. Western media is full of shit, as usual.
scales_and_fangs@reddit
That 'balanced eu approach' sound a lot like euro scepticism to me. But it depends on his deeds
palladium2@reddit
What's wrong with euroscepticism?
palladium2@reddit
Specifically soft euroscepticism, which is already prevalent in many
scales_and_fangs@reddit
It is a personal opinion, of course... but euroscepticism slows down euro integration. This slowed process makes Europe weaker.
LibertyChecked28@reddit
If the EU becomes something it would be far better to be an actual Alliance instead of Bootleg America with untouchable "Divine" former aristocrats running rampant, putrid backstage pulling the strings of everything, "federal bureucracy" which is incapable of even issuing cleaning survices, and chosen few banks that subdue everything single person into feudal mortage bound.
When has the EU ever been competitive against USA & China??
If it really wanted to become a pseudo-world power they would have invested in the Mediterranean with the goal to turn it into a power house, instead of doing the complete opposite as to enrich themselves while exhorting the ownership of all nicer private resorts.
Don't even get me started on Eastern Europe- We have the most fertile lands in the entire continent, and yet we must degrade our own agriculture for the sake of Dutch greenhouse imports?? Just so that the Dutch lobbying around their dream for monpolistic agricultural dominance won't naturally flop against something as basic as natural geographic advantage?!- Not even Turmp can come up with something so utterly stupid, and this isn't even the worst offender the EU has done against itself.
I am sorry but ever since 2014 every single EU-zealot stance had turned out to be detrimental to our country, while every single Eu-skeptic proposition turns out to have had adequate solutions when examined in retrospect:
-The abolishment of Bulgarian energy diversity for the sake of dependency on Russian gas.
-The multiple revocations of the "South Stream" projects for the sake of the "Nord Stream ones".
-The agricultural pesticide reforms alongside the evocation of quality inspection for import products, making Bulgarian farmers artificially uncompetitive against the Turkish ones who aren't obligated to follow pesticide regulations even the slightest.
-The requirements for welfare policies that greatly exceeds our country's annual budget, making us have to choice but to draw sticky ECB welfare loans with ridiculous interest rate, while still retaining the harmful welfare policies.
-The permanent 300% price increase coming from the change of currency that everyone knew was gonna happen, had happened.
-The ideologically driven complete shut down of Russian gas supply for the sake of sympathy towards Ukraine without any contingencies or temporary solutions.
-The anti-nuclear policy of Germany alongside the "Green Subsidies" scheme.
-The utterly skill issuded attempts for "Continental-wide central planning & megaproject" which give Atlantropa
scales_and_fangs@reddit
Let's agree to disagree.
oldschusteman@reddit
Bro i read western articles saying be careful with magyar he doesn't support migration so he is just like orbán. These guys actually have no clue and act like they are journalists.
LibertyChecked28@reddit
Almost as if they might be based, bribed, or conglomerate vectors for "public engineering".
LordQuaz12@reddit
The last 2 years of Radev's presidency do not instill any hope in me, and neither dose his campaign.
He is fighting corruption, yet has oligarchs in his corner.
He wants to maintain good relationships with both Russia and the EU, which is inherently paradoxical.
He has yet to present any policy that actually helps with any of his campaign promises and has been very tight liped when asked about them.
At best, he will be ineffective just like in his presidency. At worst, he will be orban, BG edition. Thst is it.
rintzscar@reddit
No, at worst he'd be like Borisov - simply install his loyal people in the key positions of the mafia state and continue like before. Hostile takeover of a working mafia machine.
LordQuaz12@reddit
Frankly being Borisov is pretty bad in it of itself. I do think that Radev will be much more sneaky about it than Borisov. He has seen how the people turned on him, so he will do it slower and less obvious.
Dimo145@reddit
hahaha. It quite literally doesn't depend on him, Borisov was also sneaky about it, but certain people didn't allow him to be as slow as he used to be. Do you think Radev's very nice ""sponsor"" class consisting of people like Gergov/Mladenov/TIM/Bojkov wont at some point look for their dividends, not caring for the fallout?
scales_and_fangs@reddit
Borisov is old already. Radev is more power hungry, younger and has more opportunities to consolidate power in the coming years. He can be a lot worse than Borisov. Time will tell.
rintzscar@reddit
Radev is only 4 years younger.
scales_and_fangs@reddit
That matters. He is also riding on a wave of popularity, which Borisov has lost long ago.
ValueSignificant3254@reddit
Vanko_Babanko@reddit
avitoxol@reddit
i can truly say to everyone in this specific time that you have no idea what you are talking about
for the both sides Radev pro russian Radev not pro russian
both are right both are wrong, and hopefully he will do something for us the bulgarians while playing both sides, we don't want liberal shit, we don't want to leave the EU, it is also funny to say we will leave the eurozone that ship has left thanks to borisov peevsky and pp-db, and if we get cheaper petrol, enrgy and prices in store i don't give a shit if he is even little pro russian which is not proved at this point in time
LargeFriend5861@reddit
Define "liberal shit"
avitoxol@reddit
transgender narrative, gay parades and stuff like that which targets schools and children, apart from that i don't care what they do (trans and gay people, just don't stuff it in my face explaining that is the norm and children should be aware from early age)
presolol@reddit
I have no idea tbh. So far it seems that Radev has mixed positions (pro eu and pro russian). If balancing between the two is what's best for the country then I support that.
clib@reddit
What pro Russian position is good for the country?
presolol@reddit
i don't have anything specific in mind but i don't like the extremist rhetoric that you must be either super pro-eu and hate russia or be a ruzzia bot and hate the eu libtards. keeping your options open is best
mj@reddit
Cheaper life?
RegionSignificant977@reddit
Cheap propaganda?
https://x.com/nexta_tv/status/2046179334809903146#m
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1994336837859395
It doesn't look good.
clib@reddit
You mean like worthless?
why_so_sergious@reddit
like.. slaves?
johny335i@reddit
How do you obtain this cheaper life with Russia? Even URALS crude oil is more expensive than BRENT now.
OldMood3002@reddit
Honestly it seems like you Bulgarians just got your first Vučić. To me it kinda reminds me of 2012 in Serbia when his party gained power by taking down pro-eu side led by democrats which were terrible and corrupt but not as much as he is now, and they weren't so entrenched as he is. He was brought by the wave of anti elite , social justice, patriotic,firm hand promises that most of the boomers jerk of to. Years after showed us what he was all about, keeping things in status quo and frozen where he can and selling our asses to the corporate world, while gaining stupid amounts of cash with his cartel and funding all kinds of brain washing retards to spread pro Russian propaganda to caveman that started learning history few years ago on YouTube. This followed with tech expansion in the past decade lead to our 50+ year old moms and dads getting their smart phones, Telegram and Facebook groups and becoming impossible to talk to if you dont wear foil hat like they do. This brain washing made people believe all kinds of crazy shit but not believing in change of power and the point of democracy (because some evil guys that run the world are picking leaders for us). People became apolitical, saying they are all the same and abstained the voting, so untill students movement we basically had no opposition to Vučić. I wish you all the luck. Eat the rich!
LargeFriend5861@reddit
Radev seems less Pro-Russia than many think, yet more than I'd personally like. Still, he doesn't have the mechanisms to be Pro-Russian without it backfiring. He is simply gonna look towards domestic policies and not do anything to hamper EU integration (he's already said he won't use the VETO, Orban style) but he's also gonna try somewhat reestablishing relations with Russia. We'll see how it goes.
He also cannot pass any reforms of government or judicial structures without asking for help from the Pro EU parties, so a lot of logrolling will prolly be happening. Basically, best try to have a positive mindset about this.
The Euro is already a thing, no way back from here. Schengen is now a thing, can't take that away. If he goes to shit, Orban style? Best we can do is vote against him next time. But he cannot take us out of any institutions even if he wanted to.
Lumpy-Tone-4653@reddit
In worst case scenario,bring back the tsar or something.
WAU1936@reddit
I'll be surprised if he doesn't turn out to be the same kind of pro-EU/NATO politician as the rest, just masking it more to attract a different crowd and seem more balanced. Western media, the EU and their aligned liberals just want total obedience, or else you're a Russian asset. In some years they'll change it to a Chinese asset. The EU can't survive without an external enemy after all.
Soguyswedid_it2@reddit
And ofc Romania remains in an undecided middle
Altruistic_Layer_254@reddit
What’s wrong with a country wanting to maintain good relations with Russia
TurdEye69@reddit
People treat things as if they are black or white. Saying we want peace with everyone somehow now means pro Russian…
scales_and_fangs@reddit
Well... it's more like how he would achieve that peace. Cutting aid to Ukraine does not strike me as a balanced approach considering Ukraine is fighting a defensive war for four years now for a territory internationally recognized as Ukrainian (among others by Russia).
Everybody wants peace, problem is the conditions of that peace.
OkoMushrooom@reddit
Outside of petty posturing they wouldn’t dare do anything anti-EU.
scales_and_fangs@reddit
By the way, he will be a lot more critical towards Northern Macedonia in order to woo part of his electorate and show himself the patriot.
TurdEye69@reddit
Don’t speak shit like that with this flair tag.
OkoMushrooom@reddit
I am the original Bulgarian in here so sit down and learn something son because I don’t speak USSR.
TurdEye69@reddit
Glad you admitted your origins.
As for the USSR, we don’t really like it here. Maybe some messed up grannies and that’s about it.
OkoMushrooom@reddit
Excellent, now be a good lad and make sure Bulgaria remains firmly on her EU path.
TurdEye69@reddit
So your future passport lets you work in Germany? No worries.
OkoMushrooom@reddit
Do not taint my Bulgarian motherland with anymore poor choices, these last elections are a disappointment and embarrassment to the last two decades of joining the EU, where is the progress? Where is the modernity? Euros can’t buy good taste you have to make that yourself.
SignificantMeet8747@reddit
This has to be the best Macedonian/Bulgarian dialogue I've seen on reddit
erythrocytes235@reddit
He did say that he will NEVER use the veto.
No-Manager6617@reddit
Tired of russian influences in EU countries...
TurdEye69@reddit
I see the propaganda machine has reached you. He’s not pro-Russia. At least so far. Western media has pushed the narrative.
ZinbaluPrime@reddit
Roflmao
shadowlight681@reddit
The best thing for Bulgaria for the last 90 years
Vesko85@reddit
It’s not like nothing better has happened in 90 years. Radev doesn’t seem very intelligent; he can’t speak on his own without written speeches. But we’ll see—he has his chance.
No-Championship-4632@reddit
I bet a lot of people will cry "traitor" soon, just like with Trifonov.
shadowlight681@reddit
And PPDB too. Maybe, maybe not, give him time, the other parties had time and chance
WorldlinessRadiant77@reddit
More of the same dude, at least foreign policy wise.
Don’t look at Radev, but at the circles of oligarchs backing him. They are all pro-EU as is pretty much anyone important in Bulgaria.
Taliskerhu@reddit
Tbh if Bulgaria tries to bust everyone's balls by trying to pull an Orban just threaten to kick them out the building, the little shits will do backflips on a pole to stay exactly where they are.
Veto what? How about you go back to the leva, how's that sound? Go link up with Russia anytime boo, she picking you up in her Lada and going for dinner at the worker's canteen? No? What I thought, now stfu and get in line. We sanctioning.
Vesko85@reddit
If Bulgaria leaves the EU and falls into Russia’s sphere of influence, it would give Russia even greater access to the Black Sea and significantly hinder the transportation of goods. In such a scenario, Bulgaria and Serbia could effectively block land access to Western Europe, which would drive up costs because goods would have to be transported by sea instead. The southeastern flank of NATO and the EU would become hostile, creating an easy route for potential Russian troops and increasing the risk of a future war in Europe. When considering these things, also think about how this would affect the EU.
johny335i@reddit
Sorry, is this something we are not too much in EU debt to understand?
TurdEye69@reddit
You’re either delusional, brainwashed or mentally struggling. What you wrote doesn’t fit our reality even remotely. Stop reading propaganda and try speaking to real humans. To be clear I didn’t vote for him. But he’s pushing for balanced politics incentivising peace and free trade. He’s not as pro Russian as western media makes it up. After all he studied aviation in the United States Air Force Squadron Officer School in Alabama. But he’s also not too against Russia. He seems to be looking after our country’s best interests so far. We’ll see how that goes. Research and build opinions on your own. Otherwise you’re just an empty echo.
Taliskerhu@reddit
I don't know anything about him. All I'm saying is, first no single country much less one of the small ones who just came in should be holding up foreign policy, in particular because they think historic hangups go above international law.
Same goes for everyone.
Slovakia, you like Putin? How about you go join that Eurasian economic bloc he's set up? No? You good over there? Commerce, Schengen, EU funds all good? Didn't think so.
This_Lion5856@reddit
Bruh it seems like you are fighting some imaginary scenarios within your own head
Pretty sure you don't know a single thing about Radev neither have you actually watched him speak but you are getting outraged about things that have never happened.
Just for clarification Radev had plenty of caretaker governments in recent years and Bulgaria has never been holding up any foreign policies. Radev himself said that he has no plans on using any vetoes on the matter and Rutte, Von Der Leyen and Costa were amongst the first ones to speak with him and congratulate him on the win.
Taliskerhu@reddit
No I don't give two shits about Radev and no I'm not watching him speak, or Moldovas PM, or the Finnish PM tbh, and what I said didn't hinge on exhaustive knowledge of Radev. He's not vetoing anything so we're all good.
TurdEye69@reddit
What foreign policy are we holding up?
“the little shits will do backflips on a pole to stay exactly where they are” is not exactly a polite way to refer to your neighbour.
Taliskerhu@reddit
I was just being facetious. We're all a bit tired over here with the Putin/Russia love from some of former Eastern bloc countries but we didn't see them clamoring to join any Eurasian economic group.
CocoonNapper@reddit
Nothing. This whole pro-Russia thing is overblown. Same thing was said the first time he got elected. Nothing changed.
RegionSignificant977@reddit
The article is in bulgarian, but you can take a look.
Radev will not become the new Orban. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he can't
oioioioioioiioo@reddit
Meanwhile Serbia is cameraman waiting to get the flag :D
FactBackground9289@reddit
They will have major competition in form of Vucic in Serbia.
Bata600@reddit
Serbians are trying to compete with Bulgarians fir whi will have better lresidebt AFTER Serbians take this one down.
erythrocytes235@reddit
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Opposite_Category_70@reddit
Chill, magyar if a way bigger f..ck. he wants the austro hungarian empire reunstated.:)))
TurdEye69@reddit
Too many subjective opinions being pushed left and right. He’s been balanced so far but we’ll see. Things could go both ways but we’re hopeful.
As for the meme, I don’t think it’s valid. Both countries just elected right wing parties. It seems people are just mechanically shitting on us for no reason (yet).
We just want stability, less mafia and to stay in good relationships with our neighbours.
LibertyChecked28@reddit