Former Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov vows return to power
Borisov sets his sights on becoming Prime Minister… again.
Bulgaria’s former prime minister, Boyko Borisov, vowed that he will be Prime Minister again, adding that he would be putting his private life on hold to concentrate on politics, the local media reported, August 5.
“I will become Prime Minister again, so [marriage] will come after that,” Borisov told reporters, according to Sofia news agency Novinite.com.
Borisov’s words came at a time when the government is returning from its holidays only to be welcomed by continued anti-government demonstrations and calls for the country’s leaders to step down.
The government, has been under attack since Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski’s unfortunate nomination of media mogul Delayan Peevski for the post of national security chief earlier this year. The nomination caused a wave of protests against a government accused of cronyism and corruption.
Despite the withdrawal of Peevski’s nomination, demonstrations continued throughout the holidays and gained vigor as Bulgaria celebrated its unification day on September 6.
Few were surprised by Borisov’s statement despite the controversy surrounding the resignation of his whole cabinet in mid-February.
His cabinet broke down following mass demonstrations and continuing public unrest, spurred on by excessive electricity bills after a harsh winter, poverty, and alleged corruption.
Borisov’s GERB party is now reportedly siding with the protesters in the hope that the fragile Bulgarian Socialist Party- led coalition eventually folds under public pressure. However, according to local media, people’s feelings toward Borisov are mixed with some calling for his immediate return to power and others putting his GERB party in the same basket as the other parties.
Photo by Jacek Turczyk. Courtesy of Polish news agency PAP/EPA.
