Galery

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Anastasia Balezdrova

The protests in Bulgaria are growing two weeks after their beginning. The protesters have been holding processions not only in front of the building of the Council of Ministers in the evening but have also been gathering in front of the parliament in the morning.
 
At the same time, there have been attempts to radicalise the protests by Volen Siderov, leader of the Attack party, who had organized a counter protest and then subsequently raided undisturbed the building of the Bulgarian National Television.

Earlier this week, writer Deyan Enev published his analysis on the topic entitled "How many Bulgarias are there" which has become very popular in traditional and social media in Bulgaria and which gave rise to the occasion for GRReporter to turn to him for a comment in an interview by e-mail.

Delian Peevski’s appointment which had provoked the protests was cancelled. However, they have not subsided for two weeks already and have even doubled due to the presence of people in the morning and in the evening. How would you comment on this?

The case of Delian Peevski has unmasked the government. In this way, it has destroyed the fragile credibility which it had as a new and, at least apparently, much more intelligent government than the previous one of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party. The protests continue because the people have recognized this government as a transmission of circles which, as the Bulgarian people are convinced, should no longer consume the power in Bulgaria.

How long will the government survive in your opinion?

If the government finds the strength to speak with the people in a clear and human language, it could survive a few months. However, I see no signs of this at present. In addition, if Stanishev had found the strength to resign as leader of the Socialist Party, this would have calmed down the spirits.

Yesterday, the leader of the Attack party, Volen Siderov, organized a counter protest and then subsequently raided the headquarters of the Bulgarian National Television and, according to witnesses, was threatening arrests. How would you explain this rise of extreme elements who have received greater support in this parliament?

Volen is an actor in a theatre. His role now requires him to be what he is at present. His role is of a scary man but even the children already know that he gravitates more to clowning because he has very easily turned to practices which, until recently, he had condemned from the parliamentary rostrum, including the hiring of thugs. Volen will soon drink to the dregs the bitter cup of a leader’s loneliness.

What is the alternative as regards the governing of Bulgaria if there are early elections?

The alternative is for reasonable people to enter parliament because the vast majority of the current deputies are a misunderstanding.

Do you see something happening in the right wing, which is not represented in this parliament?

It seems that the biggest lie of the GERB government is about to be debunked, namely that it is a right-wing party, with which they had replaced the majority of the votes. If this is realized then an authentic right formation could really evolve.

Since the beginning of the protests the media have been subjected to attacks by two of the parties in the ruling tripartite coalition. How would you comment on the behaviour of the media during this period?

The majority of the media, for the first time in four years, have become emancipated due to the government and they are now behaving like real media during the protests. If they had behaved in this way over the past four years, Bulgaria wouldn’t have been completely looted.

How would you comment on the separation of the protesters who were active in February and the current ones? Is it reasonable in your opinion or is something else hiding behind it?

The protesters in February were mostly the mothers and fathers of today's protesters. If this is understood, everything will fall into place.