Status: 11/15/2021 8:35 a.m.
It was not until September that the anti-corruption party “We continue the change” was founded. Now, according to forecasts, she has won the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. It was the third vote this year.
The new reform party “We continue the change” has probably won the elections: After counting over 40 percent of the votes, it came to just under 26 percent, in first place. The state electoral authority published these first results early in the morning.
On election night, the two chairmen and founders of the new reform party appeared in front of the cameras: Kiril Petkow and Assen Wassilew, 41 and 44 years old, who became known nationwide as interim ministers for economy and finance from May to September for their actions against rampant corruption was.
“We will invest heart and soul to set Bulgaria on a new path,” said Petkow in Sofia late in the evening. “We will do everything we can to ensure that Bulgaria gets a regular government – a coalition government.” There are so many problems to be solved, said Petkow. “We are aware of the burden of this responsibility and will approach it very responsibly.”
Focus on judicial reform and the fight against corruption
The upcoming negotiations to form a government coalition would not be easy, added Vasilev, who, together with Petkov, had only launched the reform party in September. It is “very clear” that judicial reform and the fight against corruption are non-negotiable in these talks. “The Bulgarian voters have done their job. Now we have to do our job,” said Vasilev. The formation of a government had already failed twice after the parliamentary elections in April and July.
The national-conservative GERB party of ex-Prime Minister Boiko Borissow received 21.4 percent of the vote. The socialists lost significantly and ended up in fifth place with ten percent. The party of the Turkish minority came to just under 14 percent. In the reform camp, it is just as incapable of forming a coalition as Borissov’s GERB.
The two small reform parties “We are such a people” of the TV presenter Slawi Trifonov received ten percent, the established “Democratic Bulgaria” just under ten percent.
Right-wing extremists will move into parliament
The entry of the right-wing extremist party “Rebirth” into the new parliament caused a sensation, rejecting any kind of vaccination or protective measures in the midst of the severe Corona crisis in the country. Even after the third elections since April this year, it will be difficult to form a government.
The most conceivable variant is a coalition of the three reform parties under the leadership of “We continue the change” with the socialists. Together they would have a viable majority in the newly elected parliament.
President of the Republic has to go to the runoff election
President Rumen Radew warned on election night that the parties had the “imperative to form a government.” This government must be reform-oriented, anti-corruption and social – and be supported by a clear majority. “The elections showed our society’s determination to break with corruption, lawlessness and authoritarianism,” said Radew.
The turnout in the third election since April was very low at 39 percent. President Radew was able to unite 48.6 percent in the presidential elections and will run next Sunday in the runoff election against the runner-up.
Bulgaria has voted – head to head between the Reform Party and Borissov
Clemens Verenkotte, ARD Vienna, November 14th, 2021 9:15 p.m.