Ethnic Turkish Leader Bodes Election Failure, Collapse for Borisov Govt

Ahmed Dogan, leader of the ethnic Turkish dominated Movement for Rights and Freedoms. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's upcoming presidential and local elections will deal a heavy blow to ruling center-right party, according Ahmed Dogan, leader of the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).

Dogan was on a campaign tour for the October 23 elections in the Northeast of the country, where his party traditionally enjoys strong electroal support.

"In you and your conscience I can see that after the elections GERB will receive a grand slap in the face that will force them out from government forever," said Dogan to local supporters in the town of Dulovo, boding an ill fate for PM Boyko Borisov.

This mirrored a statement he made Saturday in another village of the region, where the ethnic Turkish leader criticized PM Boyko Borisov's GERB cabinet for what he saw as a straight out incompetence leading Bulgaria to the brink.

"I must say that 90% of the completed projects that they promote are projects that have been approved or started during our mandate," said Dogan, referring to the three-way coalition cabinet between the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity which ruled Bulgaria in 2005-9.

Dogan expressed confidence that his party will achieve good results in the municipal vote across the country.

"At present, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms is best trained among the parties in Bulgaria to rule the country," stated Dogan.

His party DPS has chosed not to nominate a candidate for President of Bulgaria and has as of now not yet stated its support for any of the candidates running.

Albeit controversial, the elusive Dogan is seen as especially influential in Bulgarian domestic politics. He is known for speaking out to the public only occasionally, and for making highly controversial statements before key elections such as the general elections back in 2005 and in 2009.

Currently, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms is the third-largest Bulgarian party in terms of support, and historically its allegiance to one or another coalition partner has shaped the direction of Bulgarian political life.