Gallup: Bulgarian Regional Minister Favored as President

Bulgaria's Regional Minister, Rosen Plevneliev, is not only the highest ranked cabinet member, but could become the next President if he decides to enter the race. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Rosen Plevneliev, has been once again rated number one among the members of the "Borisov" cabinet.

The data comes from a recent poll, released by the Gallup poling agency, focusing on the voters' attitude, ahead of the October 23 presidential and local elections in the country.

Plevneliev enjoys an approval rating of 42%, followed by Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, with 40%, President, Georgi Parvanov with 39% and the first and now-former Bulgarian EU Commissioner and independent presidential candidate, formerly from the party of ex King and Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe-Coburg, National Movement for Stability and Prosperity, NMSP, Meglena Kuneva, also with 39%.

The number one politician, however, and an exception of the first five, whose ratings all vacillate around the 40% mark, is current Bulgarian EU Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, who, once again, has received very high marks – 56% support in August.

The results further show that the ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, continues to be the strongest political formation in the country, followed by the opposition left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

The poll has been conducted between July 28 and August 4, among 1 011 Bulgarians.

If general elections were to be held today, 27% would vote for GERB, 18% for BSP, 7% for the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, party, 4% for right-wing Blue Coalition, 2.5% for the far-right, nationalist Ataka, 0.9% for the other nationalist party, VMRO, 0.5% for NMSP, and 0.3% for the conservative Order, Law and Justice, RZS.

GERB enjoys 33% support, BSP – 21%, Ataka – 8%, DPS and VMRO – 7% each, the Blue Coalition – 6%, RZS – 3% and NMSP – 2%.

If, hypothetically, there would be a second round in the presidential elections, where Plevneliev is to face Kuneva – he would get 29% of the vote, she would have 27% while 35% would abstain. In a Plevneliev against the BPS nomination – current Member of the European Parliament and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivaylo Kalfin – scenario, Plevneliev would get 35%, Kalfin - 17%, and 37% would not vote. If Kuneva is to face Kalfin, she would get 31% against 16% for Kalfin while 42% would abstain.

The poll further shows the ruling GERB is in a state of a temporary stabilization, according to Gallup experts, with a decrease of negative expectations about the economy and the family budget, however, the negative assessments of GERB continue to prevail over the positive ones.

57% of the polled believe Bulgaria is regressing, compared to 65% in March and 63% in April, May and June, while 25% say things in Bulgaria are improving.

35% respond the common economic situation in the country will worsen in the next 12 months, 30% - it would remain the same, while 19% expect an improvement. Regarding the family budget in the next 12 months, these percentages are 3%, 34%, and 16%, respectively.

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