Weary Bulgarians will vote in a general election on Sunday for a fifth government in under two years, a vote that could produce another fragile coalition struggling to root out corruption and revive growth in the eastern European state. Led by a former bodyguard, the centre right GERB party is tipped to win but will probably fall short of a majority. It could turn to smaller parties and also reach out to its main Socialist opponents for support for legislation. But there is widespread disillusion with the political class and Bulgarians are fed up with voting for the same faces again and again without their lives improving. Tens of thousands took to the streets last year to voice their anger.
A further bout of political instability could keep the economy in the doldrums and leaders unable to push through reforms, such as raising the pension age, attract badly needed foreign investment and solve a festering bank crisis.
“It is a stalemate situation and the problem is that we cannot see a light at the end of tunnel,” Borislav Ganev, 47, an engineer. “They promised new jobs, but we still have a serious unemployment rate. They promised economic growth and there is nothing like this. And we still have painfully low incomes.”
Full Article: Groundhog Day in Bulgaria as new election looms | Reuters.