Galery

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What is the alternative to the government in Bulgaria in the event of early elections?

I do not have an accurate forecast as to what would happen in the case of early elections. The voters will decide this. The point is that a very important class for society which is not represented in parliament has rebelled and I think it will try to send its representatives into the cabinet. The Citizen for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party seems to be unrepresentative of this class, which is an economically active and important part of Bulgarian society.

How do you see the future of the protests and how long do you think this cabinet will survive?

I cannot make any predictions. Currently, there is the phenomenon of the growing stubbornness which is a very important factor at this point. Stubbornness is becoming a major component of the political action amidst feigned deafness as well as endurance.

Do you think the protests have already nominated some informal leaders?

The protest does not allow anyone to head it and use it. Apparently, it is aware of itself as a collective political body led by the intuition of direct democracy. This is interesting. However, direct democracy in its pure form is not possible here. Its remnants can be seen in the Swiss cantons today, for example, but we need a time machine to take us back to Ancient Greece in order for us to return to it in its purity.

What I have noticed is that the protest itself is actively blocking this option. Certain segments of the protesters simply do not recognize any leaders and faces of the protest. The protest does not allow anyone to head it and use it. Apparently, it is aware of itself as a collective political body led by the intuition of direct democracy. This is interesting. However, direct democracy in its pure form is not possible here. Its remnants can be seen in the Swiss cantons today, for example, but we need a time machine to take us back to Ancient Greece in order for us to return to it in its purity. Such a polity requires, first of all, demos, i.e. a class of free citizens but there is no way for the mass of the labour force to be in its ranks.  

How would you comment on the role of the media in this process?

The media behave as expected. Their line depends on their ownership. That is why the interpretation of the events varies.

Do you see a trend towards greater objectivity in comparison with the period before the elections?

No, I rather see more radical extremes in interpretation. There are media that are turning a blind eye and media that are opening their eyes. Some are turning a too blind eye whereas others are opening their eyes very wide. Some are turning a deaf ear too and others are making extreme interpretations... As I have already mentioned, this depends on the ownership of these media and on the degree of self-censorship. The national broadcaster behaves with dignity.

Do you think that the President's decision to support the protests could give them a strong incentive to alter the status quo?

I have no idea. I cannot decide whether this is so or not.

Do you think that the intention of union leader Konstantin Trenchev to announce a national strike is late in coming or that maybe it will not lead to any significant results?

Frankly speaking, I cannot predict the consequences of such a thing, especially during these summer months. I have no idea how it could affect the political process. Of course, if this happens in the autumn, things will be quite different as politically important seasons in Bulgaria, as there are such, do not exactly coincide with the summer. The time of serious political challenges in Bulgaria comes in the autumn and ends in spring.

Photos of Javor Gardev by Kalin Nikolov

If you were to compare the developments in Bulgaria with a literary or theatrical work, what would it be, which genre?

Grotesque, farce and domestic drama are invariably inherent genres in our politics which could evolve to low quality melodrama in the best case scenario. Tragedy and comedy require courage of the objectives and scope of the spirit which are absent at present.