Bulgarian PM Set to 'Give Whole New Meaning of Being President'

Rumyana Bachvarova, head of Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov's cabinet. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's potential presidential bid is set to "define a whole new meaning of the presidential institution", according to Rumyana Bachvarova, head of his cabinet.

In an interview for the Bulgarian National Television, Bachvarova pointed out that a conclusive decision on Borisov's candidacy is yet to be made. She did, however, state that the Prime Minister's authority would lead to a thorough transformation of the existing political landscape, should he decide to move to the presidential office.

Borisov's potential presidential bid would not mean he is escaping from his responsibilities as Prime Minister, Bachvarova claimed. She also commented on the Prime Minister's hint on Wednesday that early parliamentary elections in the country are possible:

"While technically possible, the notion of early elections is politically impossible," she said.

Borisov said he does not exclude the early parliamentary elections option after he condemned his ruling centrist-right GERB party's only ally, the far-right Ataka (Attack), over the incident in which its nationalist activists assaulted praying Muslims in downtown Sofia last Friday. After the assault, Ataka's leader, Volen Siderov, threatened to withdraw his party's support for Borisov's minority government, stating the police did not react to his supporters getting "attacked by Islamist fundamentalists."

Meanwhile, a WikiLeaks diplomatic cable was published Thursday regarding the Bulgarian Prime Minister. The cable offers a summary of Borisov's career, his contacts, personal characteristics, public and secret ties, and his attitude towards the US. Beyrle also notes that in the past "Borisov has been implicated in serious criminal activity and maintains close ties to LuKoil and the Russian embassy."

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