Lukoil License Saga Boosts Bulgarian PM Ratings

Bulgaria is expecting the rule of the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) on the revocation of Lukoil Bulgaria's license. Photo by BGNES

Every second Bulgarian (53%) approves of the decision of the Bulgarian Customs Agency to revoke the license of the Lukoil Bulgaria company to operate excise fuel storage facilities.

The results were released Wednesday by the polling agency Alfa Research. The poll has been conducted among 1 060 Bulgarians over the age of 18, between August 1 and 7.

Those who approve of the decision to revoke the license over Lukoil's failure to install electronic measuring devices say they agree because of the rule of law.

34% of the supporters and followers of the opposition left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the opposition right-wing Blue Coalition favor "such move of the cabinet."

21% oppose the decision over fears fuel prices will go up, while another 26%, mostly supporters of BSP and the opposition conservative Order, Law and Justice, RZS, party, believe the move is an election PR of the ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party and would not affect Lukoil in any way.

The media focus on the issue and the wide-spread debate, however, don't influence the attitude towards the cabinet as a whole – it remains at its June levels.

The move is though boosting the approval rating of Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, which is up by 4% making the positive assessment of his activities prevail over the negative.

The same is valid for Deputy PM and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, whose rating is up 8%.

Economy and income continue to be Bulgarians' biggest worries, but the importance of the country's financial stability is growing, shows the poll.