Fresh from their victory in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections Sunday (July 5th), Boyko Borissov and his centre-right Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) are vowing to step up reforms. Borissov warned, however, that there will be no quick fix to the various problems the country is facing. "We cannot be expected to work miracles in the next six months, and we haven't promised any such thing," the Sofia mayor told a news conference, stressing that his party's programme is a four-year one. He voiced hope that Bulgaria would soon be able to regain access to EU assistance funding, frozen because of sluggish efforts in fighting crime and corruption. Borissov, 50, also pledged that his government would prosecute any cases of corruption that took place during the outgoing government's four-year rule. "Those who have stolen should be very afraid ... The thieves will go to jail," he said.
Fresh from their victory in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections Sunday (July 5th), Boyko Borissov and his centre-right Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) are vowing to step up reforms. Borissov warned, however, that there will be no quick fix to the various problems the country is facing.
"We cannot be expected to work miracles in the next six months, and we haven't promised any such thing," the Sofia mayor told a news conference, stressing that his party's programme is a four-year one. He voiced hope that Bulgaria would soon be able to regain access to EU assistance funding, frozen because of sluggish efforts in fighting crime and corruption.
Borissov, 50, also pledged that his government would prosecute any cases of corruption that took place during the outgoing government's four-year rule.
"Those who have stolen should be very afraid ... The thieves will go to jail," he said.
Bulgaria's next prime minister is expected to be Sofia mayor and former bodyguard Boiko Borisov, who has been nicknamed 'Batman' for his tough talk on the country's endemic corruption. Borisov, whose Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party (GERB) won just under half of the 240 seats up for grabs in Sunday's elections, says he wants to form a coalition that will prioritise the fight against corruption and boost the ailing economy. GERB is widely expected to enter negotiations with the Blue Coalition, a group of rightist parties that collectively picked up 16 seats. `Batman' Borisov has also pledged to work towards the eradication of ethnic tensions in Bulgaria. "We want equality for Christians and Muslims and all ethnic groups living in Bulgaria," he said, adding that "anyone who raises the question of Bulgaria's ethnic map is working against democracy and the Bulgarian citizens."
Bulgaria's next prime minister is expected to be Sofia mayor and former bodyguard Boiko Borisov, who has been nicknamed 'Batman' for his tough talk on the country's endemic corruption.
Borisov, whose Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party (GERB) won just under half of the 240 seats up for grabs in Sunday's elections, says he wants to form a coalition that will prioritise the fight against corruption and boost the ailing economy.
GERB is widely expected to enter negotiations with the Blue Coalition, a group of rightist parties that collectively picked up 16 seats.
`Batman' Borisov has also pledged to work towards the eradication of ethnic tensions in Bulgaria.
"We want equality for Christians and Muslims and all ethnic groups living in Bulgaria," he said, adding that "anyone who raises the question of Bulgaria's ethnic map is working against democracy and the Bulgarian citizens."
there is no separation by religion. But there is separation by culture; gypsies and turks are held veyr much at arms length. keep to the Fen Causeway
Great Planet; Funny People Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
