Maxim Behar: Nowadays Politicians Rather Divide than Unite

Maxim Behar and political scientist Svetlin Tachev comment on the prospects for the government after the early elections on the program "The Day ONAIR" on Bulgaria ONAIR television, hosted by Daniela Angelova.

Host (Daniela Angelova): Good evening! Welcome to "The Day ON AIR." I am Daniela Angelova, and tonight, along with producer Gergana Marinova, we focus on today's main topics: political battles, possible alliances, the young force in the BSP, the war in the Middle East, the procedure for electing the Prosecutor General, and controversial schemes in theaters. Nikolay Mladenov, Marin Raykov, or Philip Dimitrov – will a unifying figure emerge for the position of Prime Minister? We ask Maxim Behar and Svetlin Tachev. Good evening, gentlemen, and welcome! New names for this post emerge daily, a unifying figure. But can the parties—meaning GERB-SDS and PP-DB—find such a figure, someone equally distanced or equally close, Mr. Behar?

Maxim Behar: Good evening! None of the three, of course, because these politicians cannot be unifying figures. Besides, they have already been in power. I understand the concept of a person who has been outside politics.

Host: General Atanasov's definition of this figure is a person who has been at the top of politics, a diplomat, or a constitutional judge.

Maxim: How could such people become prime ministers? We need someone who understands economics because the foundation of everything being discussed now is how Bulgaria will stand on its feet again, possibly changing its fiscal policy, and this person to be able to explain this for the Bulgarian nation to understand. There are probably a few such people in Bulgaria, but it seems that if we look at things more broadly, nothing will change in this election, no matter what government forms—one minister from here, another from there, or a unifying figure. Nevertheless, we all need to vote because there are two types of people right now. Some are uninterested because they have already voted 6 or 7 times with no results.

Host: And they are about 70% of the people.

Maxim: The others vote for the same party they like. We need to vote because this period without a government will likely last another four to five years until a new political force emerges, until all the politicians we are tired of seeing leave. We'll have to endure it yet express our preferences and wait. Democracy, good or bad, is what we have right now. It doesn't work, and not only in Bulgaria. Look at what's happening in America and other countries. Therefore, we would have to wait this period out and bring forth people who understand economics—and nothing else.

Host: But they must be politicians, Mr. Behar. Mr. Tachev, is there such a unifying figure?

Svetlin Tachev: Results matter; it matters who comes in second, whether there will be 7 or 9 parties in the National Assembly, because more fragmentation creates more difficulties in forming a government. First, in the quadruple coalition among We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), the Bulgaria Socialist Party (BSP), and There Is Such a People, the goal was to dismantle former prime minister Boyko Borisov's model—that was their unifying bond. The so-called "structure" was to remove the Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev and make judicial reforms, constitutional amendments, etc. Right now, what could it be? To remove the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Delyan Peevski, and those who protect him. However, it depends on the voting results, and it seems to me that Borisov is waiting to see the final result before deciding on his position.

Host: Is there a way around the two factions within the DPS, or let's be precise—the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) with leader Ahmed Dogan and DPS led by Delyan Peevski?

Maxim: Don't take offense, but these are small calculations—this politician with someone, another with someone else.

Host: But we need a cabinet with 123 people.

Maxim: It's not necessary to have a cabinet after the election. There may well be yet another election until a new political force or person emerges.

Host: Since this is often claimed, are you referring to the presidency?

Maxim: No, I mean another election and a political force of young, intelligent people. Again, it's a process that likely won't come even after a year. However, if we are speaking of politicians - they cannot lead or be independent or expert prime ministers in Bulgaria. The past ten years have shown that politicians do not unify but divide—and that's all politicians. They stand against each other with no real economic concept. Very few people have a business mindset. A primary task of any businessperson or manager who leads people is to unite and work together with them. And if we put a politician in this role, it means we're losing the point again.

Host: Mr. Behar, has Vasil Terziev, the Mayor of Sofia, managed to unite the Sofia City Council, governing the capital better, if we take a figure from business—a successful figure with a successful company—and place them in this position?

Maxim: Good question. So far, he has united people against himself—in this context, he has, but the state government is something else. Local governance differs from the state government, which needs to work with the parliament and multiple political forces. By the way, the Sofia Council is an excellent example of this setup, where Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) has a majority, and they govern. A future National Assembly in Bulgaria, composed of 5-6 political forces aiming to form a government together, will fail because each faction will pull in its direction. We need a government that can unite all political forces around a sensible political program. What else could unite deputies or political forces besides an economic program? Nothing else.

Host: Unless they have different economic views.

Maxim: There's almost no difference among the various political forces, except perhaps for Eurozone entry or Schengen, or to name a political force—Revival, which has a different stance on adopting the euro or on Russia, which is also deeply concerning.

Host: Primarily the war in Ukraine. Many experts ask: why not a minority government—between coalitions Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria-Union of Democratic Forces (GERB-SDS) and PP-DB—and floating majorities on certain issues, with a prearranged agreement? A government with a 6-7-8 month horizon?

Maxim: In the short term, there's some chance for a government lasting no more than six months to a year. We all remember how, in 2005, King Simeon II said he would never govern with BSP, and after the elections, he partnered with them. Or how in 2004, the Kind's party National Movement for Stability and Progress (NDSV) said they'd never govern with Dogan. But back then, there was a goal called January 1, 2007—Bulgaria's accession to the European Union. That was truly a huge goal worth uniting for.

Host: Back then, the language used in the parliament and personal attacks weren't as prominent.

Maxim: It was a different world, a different planet, and not just in Bulgaria—it was everywhere. We all have to acknowledge that we're now different people, and politics is different, especially after COVID, the crises we experienced, and the wars now almost at our borders. These factors changed us, the politicians, and the visions we have for our future. It is much more short-term now—surviving month by month, creating a government for 6 months to a year. However, I believe it's possible because if we continue this freefall in terms of inflation and the entire budgetary chaos, Bulgaria will face challenging years. The current BSP leadership seems pragmatic in trying to win supporters; I think PP will agree to something. GERB and DPS are clear. A government could be formed, but it must have a clear vision for Bulgaria's economy—making business, investment, and improving our image internationally. Bulgaria is filled with young, intelligent, ambitious, and smiling people. We can't showcase this if there's no government and with these ridiculous quarrels in parliament.

Host: Until next time, gentlemen!

Maxim: Have a pleasant evening!

Watch the full interview here.