Bulgaria among EU Members with Authoritarian Bent - Analyst

Bulgaria is among a group of countries from Central and South-Eastern Europe which are potentially threatened by authoritarian rule, according to German political scientist Klaus Offe.

"A nighmare scenario will see at least 5 EU countries - Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece will see the rebirth of authoritarian rule," said Offe in a material for Italian Mulino magazine.

According to the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin researcher, we might witness a renaissance of what he called "Austrian-clerical fascism," which emerged in the 1930s.

Offe argued that there is a tendency for authoritarianism special for Central and South-Eastern Europe.

"We can witness its fruits in Hungary and Romania today, and in Austria back in the times of Georg Haider," explained the political scientist.

Offe said that the European Union is an important way to counteract and contain any such developments.

He argued that the time of financial crisis and inequality looming big among EU member states is a prime time for the rearing of authoritarianism in countries which are worse off.

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