Bulgarians' Hype over Borisov Beats Saxe-Coburg Craze - Survey

The formidable physical presence and down-to-earth language of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov readily translates into high approval rates among Bulgarians. Photo by BGNES

The recently elected Prime Minister Boyko Borisov enjoys unprecedentedly high approval rates among Bulgarians, exceeding those of former king Simeon Saxe-Coburg from the times of his much expected and jubilant return to the country in 2001, a survey shows.

A month and a half after the general elections in July support for the prime minister reached 64%, outrunning by 1% approval for former king Simeon Saxe-Coburg after sweeping the elections in 2001, shows a survey of Gallup International.

In 2001 Borisov served as bodyguard to Bulgaria's former king, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who returned from nearly half a century of exile to run for parliament and become prime minister.

Borisov so impressed the king that he gave him a government job only to see him a few years later replacing him as everybody's favourite.

The undisputed top poll scorer is followed by Socialist President Georgi Parvanov (52%).

Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov ranks third in Bulgarians' sentiments (47% of approval), closely followed by European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva (46%).

Bulgaria's new Finance Minister Simeon Djankov, a World Bank economist, who is widely perceived as the busiest and most experienced member of the center-right cabinet, ranks at spot eight, collecting the support of 26% of the Bulgarians.

Next comes the new Education Minister Yordanka Fandakova and the country's senior prosecutor Boris Velchev, the latter of whom marked an impressive 9% rise in approval rates only within a month, Gallup International said.

Bulgarians have pinned all their hopes for improving their living standards on the new cabinet, the survey shows. The surging approval rates for GERB party are accompanied by a whopping 36% rise in the number of Bulgarians who believe they will be better-off in the short term.

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