Maxim Behar: The "Zhelyazkov" cabinet is composed of professionals
Maxim Behar and journalist Valeriya Veleva comment on the proposal for the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet on the show "The Day ON AIR" on Bulgaria ON AIR television, hosted by Ganiela Angelova.
Host (Ganiela Angelova): Good evening! "The Day ON AIR" begins. I'm Ganiela Angelova, and tonight, along with producer Gergana Marinova, we are focusing on current topics. How long will the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet last? Comments from journalist Valeria Veleva and PR expert Maxim Behar. Good evening, and welcome!
Maxim Behar: Good evening!
Host: Is there any integrity in this coalition, set to be voted on tomorrow in the National Assembly—the proposed composition of the “Zhelyazkov” cabinet, Mr. Behar?
Maxim: Today is a very good day for Bulgaria for several reasons. First, it sends a strong message abroad because, after all, we have been on this open market for so long, dependent on investments and international companies that might come to Bulgaria to invest. I am thinking purely in economic terms. With many people I have spoken to so far, there was much caution around temporary governments, the so-called caretaker governments, because it is unknown who will make what decisions and what lifespan they will have. The decision is crucial for Bulgaria at the moment, as it is important for investors to know that there is now a government that can make better and longer-term decisions and has a long-term perspective. I think that Rosen Zhelyazkov is a very intelligent person and a very good politician. He has never thrown himself out there and never made unnecessary moves. The so-called "politics of red lines" is fundamentally absurd. If your building is on fire, will you hate your neighbor, or will you not leave your burning apartment because your neighbor did something to you? All of us, having wars near the borders and a global economic crisis, are waiting for January 20 to see what will happen in Washington and how the whole world will change because it will—but in which direction. We need to look after our little home, and therefore, it is super good news that parties have come together and ultimately prioritized what is important for Bulgaria. The second point is Bulgaria's image abroad, besides investment—how people view Bulgaria. It was unacceptable to go to elections 7 times in the last 2 or 3 years and to be laughed at by everyone. Even our Macedonian brothers laugh at us and say that we can't make a government, let alone advise them on how to join the European Union. And third, of course, are the messages to our own compatriots, to Bulgarians—that there are people who can rise above themselves, their ego, and petty squabbles and work together for Bulgaria.
Host: Let's say a few words about the cabinet's composition.
Maxim: Look at the list of ministers. If we exclude the Minister of Economy, who no one knows, and we don't even have photos of him, this is a government of professionals. There can be "for" and "against"; someone might say whatever. Many of them have been in power, especially the economic team—people who know how to make a budget. Bulgaria is currently facing extremely difficult decisions. The budget now follows left politics and has a lot of giveaways. It will have to be redone, and I don't want to be a prophet of doom, but the truth is that in the next few years, we might have to tighten our belts a little.
Host: Will this be allowed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)?
Maxim: It will be. Why wouldn't it be allowed?
Host: We know their program.
Maxim: I have deep doubts about the terms "left-wing governance" or "left-wing politics." Nothing is more noble than for people to work more and earn more money—but not to get more money without working. Therefore, excluding the prime minister, I am very pleased with several names in the government. We know them, and they are predictable. The predictability of a cabinet is extremely important not only for investors but also for each of us watching the news every evening.
Host: Why did Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS), say no to a government with the same prime minister and almost the same ministers six months ago? Please give us the answer, Mr. Behar.
Maxim: Because currently, naturally, he is in retreat and is seeking a bit more legitimacy. He wants to participate in decision-making to show that he is still in politics, which is an excellent and very appropriate move. But there are interesting findings in this government.
Host: Which?
Maxim: Let's say Miroslav Borshosh from GERB, the nominee for Minister of Tourism, who I am sure will do an incredible job.
Host: Some say he was ideal for the Ministry of Culture. Why do we see him in tourism?
Maxim: After Evtim Miloshev, the caretaker Minister of Tourism, he would do a great job and continue what was started. I am delighted to watch the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Internal Affairs because they are a perfect fit—intelligent, young, experienced people who have gone through ministries and the entire administrative machine. I know people who came into power, and one year wasn't enough for them to familiarize themselves with these administrative tangles - who does what, who carries what responsibility. And by the time they understood, they had to leave.
Host: What did Ahmed Dogan ask for to support the administration? Is it true that "nothing" and they will finally give support tomorrow in exchange for nothing, or should we look at the second echelon - regional governors and so forth?
Valeria Veleva: What came out in the last 24 hours and many media wrote about, including us, is that Dogan asked for a ministerial chair, deputy ministerial chairs, regional governors, the State Agriculture Fund, and so forth. We didn't make all this information up. There was some dissatisfaction from Dogan's team because these things came out. They come from the negotiating teams. Today, Rosen Zhelyazkov said that APS of Dogan wanted more seats to gain legitimacy, but they were given legitimacy by being allowed to support the government.
Maxim: In this configuration, however, there are losses. The losses are for "We Continue the Change" (PP) - young, intelligent people, businessmen, who have made money and done business, suddenly entered into narrow-minded decisions, absolute rural disputes over petty things, arguing against each other, and unfortunately, this will bring them a large outflow of voters. Because these people governed for a while, we all had high hopes for them. New people came, as in many other European countries, what Macron did in France and many others, and it was a big disappointment to see everything that happened. They had a place in this coalition and in this government. They could have spoken their word and participated with their expertise.
Host: We heard Boyko Borisov, the leader of GERB, say that everything was agreed upon, but PP didn't want to participate.
Maxim: The opposition is very diverse and very fragmented, and in my opinion, intolerant of each other. There are Delyan Peevski, the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), Velichie, and Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of Revival, and this is a problem for the government not because of attacks from different sides but because a government can be good only when there is good and strong opposition that criticizes it so that they do their job even better - just like the market competition. I think Peevski is being demonized too much because his name is repeated non-stop on TV, which makes it seem like he decides everything. It turned out that he didn't decide everything; there may be other factors that prevailed in forming a government. He runs a party; let's see how he will manage it and what kind of opposition it will be. But surely there will not be a united opposition with Kiril Petkov or Asen Vasiliev from PP, as well as Kostadin Kostadinov.
Host: It would be strange if we saw it. It's not like we haven't seen strange things in the parliament.
Maxim: However, it seems to me that the opposition will not be able to play at the moment. If we have a government that plays its cards well and these people reasonably approach what is necessary for Bulgaria, they will last until the end of the term.
Host: Criticism of the cabinet and composition - a few words from you. Many ask what Daniel Mitov knows about the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Maxim: If you look at Trump's team, which I hope will be officially proposed next week, not a single professional has grown in their ministry or worked for it. We all know his proposal for the CIA or for the Minister of Defense, who is a TV presenter.
Host: There was a lot of criticism.
Maxim: I hope to see you in an upcoming government, Ganiela.
Host: As Minister of Defense, Mr. Behar? We're joking, of course.
Maxim: Why not, if you have the qualities of a good administrator, to make quick decisions, to work with people and unite them? Daniel Mitov is such a person, and Georg Georgiev from the Ministry of External Affairs is too. These are people who have experience.
Host: Will it be difficult for this coalition? Yes or no.
Maxim: Who has it easy these days? No one. It is quite normal for a government; even if 100% of the deputies vote for them, it would still be difficult. Times are tough and quite different, and these are the conditions and the market in which we all work.
Host: It will hang by a thread in the end. That's how it looks.
Maxim: Well, it wouldn't be the first time. We've played this match many times. The important thing is that there are quality people, and it appeared at a time when we needed to have a government.
Host: Thank you, and see you next time!
Watch the full interview here.