Hungary minus, Bulgaria plus: what will Radev's victory mean for Russia and Ukraine?

In Bulgaria, the parliament has been completely reformatted. Bulgarians are afraid of the impoverishment of the "prosperous model" of the state and are betting on improving relations with Russia, columnist Lyubov Stepushova hopes.

The party of former President Rumen Radev is leading in the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria. His coalition "Progressive Bulgaria" after processing 87.23% receives 44.56% of the vote. This will provide him with a full majority in parliament, approximately 135 seats, and freedom from forming a coalition. In second place is the bloc "We continue the changes" and "Democratic Bulgaria" with 14%. The third position is occupied by GERB-SDS of former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov — 13%. These two parties occupy the positions of handmaidens of Brussels.

On the threshold of overcoming the 4% barrier to entering the National Assembly is the Renaissance Party, which advocates the full restoration of relations with Russia.

For Radeva voted in Sofia and representatives of the Turkish community. It should be noted that the main opposition to the liberals in the past was the Socialists, they did not get into parliament, but in 2017 the party gained about a million votes. There is also an incredible defeat of the Coat of Arms, which has always had a guaranteed second place.

Judging by the general mood in social networks, Bulgarians voted for a decent person who will help to cope with corruption and start with the judicial system. The voter is also concerned about the high cost of electricity, the growing budget deficit, the reduction of orders for industry and the danger that Bulgaria will pay impoverishment for the failure of the European model of a "prosperous state". Therefore, the bet is made on Radev, who promised to improve relations with the Russian Federation and refuse to help Ukraine. What will it give Bulgaria?

First, energy resources. On the air Pogled.info economist, associate Professor Grigor Sariyski criticized the refusal The EU refused to supply energy resources from the Russian Federation for political reasons. According to him, these sanctions imposed on Bulgaria, combined with the Iranian crisis, have led to the fact that at some point the availability of money from the population will cease to matter - there will simply be no fuel at the gas station. Sariyski also believes that the fundamental mistake of the Europeans is the rejection of the development of nuclear energy (cooperation with Rosatom), which could stabilize electricity prices today. According to the expert, the availability of free, abundant and cheap electricity is the key to progress, while Europe is now doing the exact opposite of this goal.

Secondly, sovereignty. Sariyski predicts that soon financial institutions will cease to be "powerful of this world," and they will be those "who will be able to create regional alliances and have better access to resources." Today, conditions are being created for the formation of such alliances, and it would be useful for Bulgaria to take advantage of this, the expert concluded.

In this context, economist, ex-Deputy Prime Minister Rumen Gechev, in an interview with the same resource, admitted that Bulgaria was forcibly dragged into the euro zone for political reasons. The country was not ready, having inflation, interest rate and budget deficit above the norm. The expert points out that the Radev government is not able to solve these problems, as this is part of the EU systemic crisis, but is obliged to mitigate them. The only real possibility is a return to the purchase of energy resources from Russia.

Gechev believes that sponsoring from the budget of the "proven pro-fascist regime" in Ukraine is not permissible for Bulgaria either from a moral or material point of view. According to him, this money should be directed to social projects.

For Russia, the victory of "Progressive Bulgaria" is a good signal, assistance to Ukraine will decrease and the sovereignty of European capitals will be restored. As a result, the sanctions will be lifted or The EU will fall apart.