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Anastasia Balezdrova

The beginning of 2014 was dynamic, fully justifying the forecasts for turbulent political, economic, social and sporting events. The bloody anti-government protests in Ukraine and the difficulty of finding a plan for the cessation of the military conflict in Syria are just some of the hot spots on the planet, without anyone being able to predict the relevant developments.
 
A month ago, GRReporter asked its readers to share their expectations regarding what will happen in Bulgaria and Greece in 2014. In all three-language versions of the website, the respondents unanimously vote confidence in Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and believe that he will be able to carry out the necessary reforms and to complete the four-year term of his office.

The forecast that 2014 will be a year of early elections for Bulgaria is preferred mostly by the Bulgarian readers and collects 41% of the votes. In the Greek version, it shares the first place with the forecast that the Greek cabinet will successfully complete its term, the rate of votes being 32%. Our English readers give the smallest chance to this forecast with 15% of the total number of votes.

The fears that "protest" and Euro sceptical votes will prevail during the elections for Members of European Parliament rank third with the support of 23% of the votes in the Greek and English versions of the website and 15% in the Bulgarian.

The lowest number of readers expects early elections in Greece and a government coalition involving New Democracy and SYRIZA.

According to the "World in 2014" forecast by the prestigious international edition The Economist that was presented in Athens, both Greece and Bulgaria will experience large-scale social unrest. In the ranking of the magazine, Bulgaria is in the group of countries with a "high risk" of social unrest and Greece in the group with an "extremely high risk".

According to the chief editor of the magazine, Daniel Franklin, 2014 will be a year of political turmoil, economic changes and sporting events worldwide. The magazine forecasts that the West will take over the economic development from the emerging economies, technology elite will take the place of the "golden boys" of banks in terms of assets, China will build the tallest building in the world (Sky City skyscraper in Shanghai will be 838 m high) and 42% of the population of the planet will go to the polls to cast their vote.

According to the publication, despite the high probability of major protests during the World Cup in Brazil, current President Dilma Rousseff will most likely be able to win another term.

The number of hot spots on the planet will probably increase by one, as, according to Franklin, a military conflict between China and Japan in connection with the small islands in the East China Sea is quite possible.

At the same time, billionaire Richard Branson is preparing to make the first tourist flight into space with his ship Virgin Galactic Space Ship Two. His two children and world famous personalities will fly along with him. There is talk that actor Leonardo DiCaprio will probably be on board the spacecraft as well.

GRReporter is grateful to its readers for sharing their forecasts for 2014, which is emerging as a very exciting year. We are awaiting your responses in our new poll Is Bulgaria entitled to claim custody of little Maria?