AFP: 'New Government Will Have Its Work Cut Out'

Mizia was devastated by floods in August that turned the streets into muddy brown rivers, swamping 800 houses and killing two. Seven weeks later the devastation remains. Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria's new government will face serious challenges, comments AFP in an article entitled “Winter of discontent looms over Bulgarian election”.

The report starts in the flood-stricken town of Mizia, describing the dire situation and desperation of its residents and the scope of devastation.

People there accuse corrupt politicians of their situation, rather than nature and say they are not going to vote.

"We are desperate, left to battle for our living here all by ourselves," said Mizia resident Mitka Androva, 77. "People are fed up. Politicians only care about filling up their own pockets and for the people nothing, only suffering."

In the light of the recent survey of the Open Society institute, in which 69% of respondents describe the situation in Bulgaria as “unbearable”, 10% unemployment, meagre economic growth, low salaries and pensions and lack of foreign investment, AFP predicts that the new government will face serious problems.

“In addition, it looks set to be a tough winter”, AFP notes. “An almost 10% rise in state-regulated electricity prices from October 1 will deepen misery in the country where 80 percent of families struggle to pay their energy bills.”

Another problem would be the gas deliveries. With Bulgaria getting 85% of its gas from Russia via Ukraine, the looming cuts in deliveries could leave thousands of households across the country with no central heating and would create problems for the country's industry.

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