/ world in the present day information/ I need to congratulate from the underside of my coronary heart all of the BSP candidates who achieved victory! It was gained with plenty of religion and tireless efforts – lots of of conversations and conferences with individuals, with their ache and hope! I additionally need to encourage our candidates who tried their finest however failed. As a result of the beginning positions had been too uneven, or else as a result of they had been left to struggle on their very own.
Each of them campaigned with emotion and honor! We made breakthroughs in Ruse, Pernik, Blagoevgrad and Razgrad, and in Shumen and Lovech we nearly fell quick. Our candidates confronted probably the most organized and highly effective celebration in Bulgaria, which for a decade put down sturdy roots in energy and constructed a slender pyramid of dependencies and folks whose well-being is inextricably linked to the success of GERB.
The in-depth analyzes of what occurred within the native elections are but to come back. Nevertheless, interpretations have begun. Due to this fact, I’ll share some conclusions.
It’s apparent that GERB gained the native elections. Sure, within the circumstances of low voter turnout, disgust with the electoral course of, company and purchased vote, not permitting an ample marketing campaign and political confrontation on the nationwide degree, with the tacit help of the DPS.
Though GERBs themselves selected the context, it’s more and more seen that their dominant place is eroding. Fatigue from 10 years of rule, unprincipled coalitions, outrage at corruption, outrages and vanity created an surroundings for opposition breakthroughs. Not by likelihood, they misplaced exactly the place their inside divisions are the fiercest – Ruse, Blagoevgrad, Yambol, Vidin.
Towards this background, the BSP repeated its outcomes from 2015 – 61 municipal mayors (in comparison with 60 within the earlier elections) and 1,006 municipal councilors (in comparison with 930 in 2015). Within the native elections, the BSP elevated its help for the lists for municipal councilors by 43,367 votes, of which 41,380 had been in Sofia and Ruse. In 7 BSP districts there’s not a single mayor of a municipality, and in one other 7 – just one.
Native elections 2019 are a missed alternative for BSP, as a result of in the present day increasingly persons are on the lookout for another. 4 years have handed because the celebration’s lowest end result, marked by victory within the presidential elections, erosion and limitless scandals within the administration – from “Sujukgate” to “apartmentgate”. And most significantly, from the rising feeling that we’re shifting in inertia and with no clear route as a rustic.
In such an surroundings, our outcomes are disappointing. Sure, that is how GERB wins elections. It isn’t one thing new. We confronted the identical factor in 2011 – substitution of the outcomes, the documented chaos within the Universiade corridor and lots of different details and violations. Within the years of GERB’s heyday, with Borisov’s private score of 70%, we gained 8 mayors of regional cities, 94 mayors of municipalities, 593,000 votes for lists and 1167 councilors!
If we’re actually nervous about democracy 12 years after Bulgaria’s full membership within the EU due to harsh strain, threats and purchased votes, I’m wondering what we from the BSP have carried out? We have no idea the strategies of our opponents? If we’re actually excited – how did we counter it? For comparability, after the bitter expertise of 2011, on the initiative of the BSP, with different events, from the middle to the precise, within the parliamentary elections of 2013, we organized an actual full parallel census, hiring one of many authoritative European corporations, organizing advocates and observers. Protecting our integrity was vital! To all events.
I heard no calls to protect the vote this fall. And the BSP didn’t make a nationwide marketing campaign both – for voter turnout, for motivating our members and sympathizers. We stayed on Fb.
Past the final preoccupation with the electoral course of, easy counting with numbers and self-measuring with outcomes, after elections is a time for evaluation and dialog inside the BSP. I do know that I will probably be accused of all sins once more, however I really feel sorry for my celebration and I’m obliged to say that if we proceed like this, the BSP won’t win the following parliamentary elections. Nor any subsequent election. Why?
As a result of BSP shouldn’t be another. In successive elections, the left didn’t supply a contemporary, thorough and knowledgeable political supply. We skilled sociologists assigning us the place of a median celebration on election evening, and us preventing to be the third political drive in some locations!
As a result of BSP is remoted and encapsulated. In successive elections, we’re alone, and this purposeful loneliness deepens. Kaloyan Pargov and Maya Manolova deserve congratulations right here, in addition to Pencho Milkov and Krum Zarkov, who confirmed that the fan of help could be dissolved and the vote for the BSP can turn into prestigious once more! It’s no coincidence that Sofia and Ruse additionally noticed the biggest improve in votes for the celebration.
As a result of the BSP is being de-ideologicalized. Within the marketing campaign closest to the individuals, not a single left-wing message was heard – about revenue, about insurance policies for youngsters, about well being care, training. To struggle the large inequalities. Concerning the housing coverage. Nationwide protests for which the BSP was requested for assist – for nurses’ salaries and quite a lot of others – had been missed. It has reached the purpose of absurdity that the unions in Bulgaria help GERB!
Kidnapped on nationalist terrain, the BSP poured into the VMRO and the NFSB and freed the complete center-left discipline. It was there that the civic power manifested itself and fairly a number of candidates gained seats within the municipal councils with our conventional messages. And perhaps they’re the following political initiatives? They are going to spring up within the territory of the trendy left, they may entice the votes of the younger, the energetic, the working, the individuals from the middle. And the BSP will soften in solitude. Within the slender area of interest of populism. The place administration positioned her.
As a result of the BSP is turning into authoritarian. Probably the most democratic celebration in Bulgaria arranges lists underneath dictation. Or else the prepared ones are changed and concessioned in opposition to mineral waters and enterprise pursuits, in opposition to enjoying and help from different events. Entire organizations had been run over proper earlier than the elections – probably the most blatant instance is Varna. However there are additionally Sandanski, Chirpan, Montana… The logical query is why? Due to a hard and fast match of the brand new previous mayors or due to the try to scrub the celebration and prepare it comfortably for the upcoming intra-party direct election?
As a result of the BSP is simply rising sufficient to be a handy opposition to GERB. Not my phrases. I borrowed them from three political scientists who commented on Sunday’s outcomes. I’ll solely add that BSP is being depoliticized, has misplaced face and experience. For years, it was the left that set the tone for total campaigns. Our concepts made the talk in politics. We could have had many flaws, however the concepts and politics within the campaigns all the time set the agenda, instructed the way forward for the Bulgarian residents.
Since you can not win parliamentary elections with out native elections. Our good efficiency within the elections in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 strengthened our positions for the nationwide marketing campaign in 2001, 2005 and 2013. Kostadin Paskalev and Dora Yankova headed NSORB, and Borislav Gutsanov – Affiliation of Chairmen of Municipal Councils.
Is the query concerning the targets of this BSP marketing campaign? Successful the native elections? Is it? Moderately, a need for direct elections in Might subsequent 12 months and self-dealing with the inner opposition. This was additionally reported on election evening. As a checked process.
The native elections had been introduced as a comeback. The place? Within the narrowed geography of half the areas in Bulgaria? With the departure of our conventional fortresses?
If we actually need to play the Return of the Jedi episode, we’ve got to be one of many good ones. We want individuals to consider us. And never to decide on GERD because the lesser evil. It’s vital for younger and energetic individuals to acknowledge the ability in us, not in momentary heroes. And no, anti-communism messages do not work with them. And so they can not function justification.
What’s the recipe?
BSP ought to urgently give attention to unity as a substitute of division. To decide on the politics, the trendy leftist messages, the opening to the middle. To return to work in locations and the return of members and supporters. To return to himself.
To face facet by facet with the European left and return to the facet of change, with Budapest as a substitute of Orbán.
Then we’ll all have fun the grand return! And sure, then we’ll win elections! And the BSP will govern Bulgaria!
#Return #Jedi #BSP
