The Bulgarian politicians went on their summer holiday. However, they left some serious issues still unsolved. The relations between the main partners in the country’s government GERB and the Reformist Bloc are tense and some high representatives of these parties did not rule out the possibility that the coalition agreement may be revised later. Some of them even suggested that the country may head to early Parliamentary elections. In the beginning of this week Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov had to calm things down. He contended that the relations between GERB and the Reformist Bloc were fine. However, some political analysts started to forecast cabinet reshuffles. According to some political experts, the possible changes would strengthen the coalition relations. Moreover, they will not affect the ministerial positions occupied by representatives of the Reformist Bloc. Despite the recent contradictions, most people believe that the current cabinet will continue to govern the country, because there aren’t any strong local and external factors that might provoke early elections. Bulgaria’s partners in NATO and the EU want to see a strong and stable country. Even if the relations between GERB and the Reformist Bloc deteriorate, the biggest political party in Bulgaria can easily find a majority in Parliament with the political support of the Alternative for Bulgarian Revival and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. The painful debates and compromise about the judicial and the pension system brought GERB and the MRF closer, which made some political analysts speak of an informal coalition between these two parties. At the end of last week the tension between GERB and the Reformist Bloc increased, because the majority postponed the adoption of the new act proposed by the reformists, which has to fight high-level corruption. The political situation worsens by the fact that the political parties are now preparing for the forthcoming local elections and referendum on election rules. GERB is heading towards these elections with the adjustment to win great victories in Bulgaria’s big cities and run with its own candidates. The Reformist Bloc will rather participate independently on the local elections, but the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria were proclaiming the idea until recently that the party should make free coalitions where possible. That is why the Bulgaria for Citizens Movement insisted that the Reformist Bloc should consolidate its structures and make a common registration for the forthcoming elections supported with a coalition agreement. According to many experts, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms will keep its electoral support. It may even widen its support, if it manages to attract more votes from the Roma ethnic group. The Bulgarian Socialist Party is heading towards the new political season with the satisfaction that its representative Maya Manolova was elected Bulgaria’s new Ombudsman. The party intends to show its supporters that it had already abandoned its habit to proclaim leftist ideas and then follow rightist policies. The new political season may bring a series of developments. However, no significant changes are likely to occur in the political status-quo in the coming months.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov