/ world today news/ Despite the period full of contradictions between the institutions and diverging positions with the government on a number of issues, President Rumen Radev remains unaffected by the hot current scandals. With 59% approval and 10% disapproval, he achieved the highest rating since the beginning of his term. This is shown by the results of the regular survey of socio-political attitudes of the “Alfa Research” Agency.
One of the most interesting results of the study is how this constellation of different and even divergent events affects electoral party support.
After the scandals surrounding CEZ, the campaign against the adoption of the Istanbul Convention, the attacks against Bulgaria’s mediating role on the European stage, BSP scores its symbolic victories and shortens the distance with GERB to 2.5%.
GERB retains its place as the first political force with the support of 23.1% of all voters. The foreign political activity of the party leader Boyko Borisov leads to a growth of 3 percent in his personal rating – up to 36%.
With support of 20.5%, the left is shortening the distance with GERB, but not because of electoral growth, but because of the decline of the main political opponent. The leader of the party, Kornelia Ninova (trust 26.4%) also failed to increase her personal rating.
Despite the scandals between them, the United Patriots managed to hold on to 5.2% electoral support. Krasimir Karakachanov has the highest personal rating (29.8%), followed by Valeri Simeonov – 11.4% and Volen Siderov – 6.4%.
In DPS, as well as in Volya, no significant changes are observed. The movement would certainly have parliamentary representation (5.1%), while Vola would not be enough to bring Veselin Mareshki’s party back into parliament (2.0%).
The generally anti-European rhetoric of the BSP, however, puts it in a kind of trap regarding the first elections in which its influence will be tested – the European elections in 2019.
The biggest test for Cabinet Borisov 3, the deal for CEZ, has the most direct negative effect on its image. 57% are of the opinion that the government is involved in some way in the sale of the largest electricity distribution company in Bulgaria to the Pazardzhik firm Inerkom, and one of the respected experts-ministers in the cabinet, Temenuzka Petkova, loses 10 points from her personal rating.
At the same time, 42% are of the opinion that, politically, this scandal is being used by the government’s opponents to overthrow it. Thus, although GERB sympathizers are also critical of the deal, in relation to the government they take a defensive position. As a result, the cabinet maintains confidence at 21%, the same as it was in December. However, his critics increased by 4% (up to 43%), with negative sentiments increasing mainly among residents of the capital and rural areas.
The European presidency and the foreign policy activity of the cabinet, in turn, are the main resource for a wider public support on key topics, going beyond the electoral base of the coalition partners. 37% define the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU as successful so far, against only 13% – as unsuccessful. 50% approve of our country’s priority for European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans. In this context, Prime Minister Borissov increased his rating by 3% compared to December.
Among the foreign-political factors that had an unexpectedly strong influence on public opinion, the response from the political statements of the Russian Patriarch Kirill should be noted above all. 67% evaluate his words that the Bulgarians have not shown appreciation to Russia as unacceptable and humiliating, 25% accept them as acceptable and fair. Beyond the specific words, however, for the first time, a more serious problematization by broad public layers of the behavior that Russia demands towards itself is observed. After this year’s March 3rd, 43% are of the opinion that Russia is demanding not just appreciation, as the majority of people do show, but also that our country should follow its development path. Which, also according to the majority of Bulgarians, does not correspond to their choice.
As a result of these changes, for the first time since the Ukrainian crisis and the annexation of Crimea, there has been a serious drop in the traditionally positive attitude towards Russia from 66% to 56%. Whether and in what direction the escalation of tensions between Europe and the US, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other, due to the poisoning of Skripal, will have an effect will become clear in the coming months. The cooling towards Russia, however, in parallel with the European activism of the government, leads to a further increase in the usually high support for the EU (from 50% to 58%), but also to a certain increase in the approval of the North Atlantic Alliance (from 38% to 44 %).
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