Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Former US ambassador James Pardew: Bulgaria has passed the point of no return

James Pardew, Former US Ambassador to Bulgaria (2002-2005)
Photo: BGNES

In an article published in the Politico, former US ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew writes that "Boyko Borissov, the populist leader of Bulgaria, is facing a popular revolt that will not go away". According to the author of the publication, Bulgaria and Borissov have passed the point of no return.

"It is high time that Europe makes it clear that it stands by the people of Bulgaria and their plea for real democracy, and takes concrete steps to help them achieve that goal," writes James Pardew, US ambassador to Bulgaria in the period 2002-2005. 

Pardew emphasizes that "Borissov created a system with many of the hallmarks of a one-party state. He has effectively destroyed the country’s political opposition through the widespread use of intimidation, local corruption and alleged vote-buying on a massive level in communities".  

The author also defines power in Bulgaria as a softer version of that of Vladimir Putin. "Borissov and his political apparatus can be characterized as “Putin-light,” employing the same tactics as the Russian strongman but in a slightly less heavy-handed manner. Although Borissov likes to present himself as a populist, his methods are authoritarian", Pardew argues.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Svetlin Tachev

Temporary governance is becoming a salient feature of the political situation in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is facing the 7 th snap parliamentary election in a row in three years. The reason is that, once again, all three exploratory mandates for the formation of a cabinet which the president hands to parties represented in parliament have..

updated on 8/6/24 12:58 PM

Railway line to Bulgaria has become unwanted by the new rulers in Skopje

In the past few weeks, the new government in North Macedonia, led by Hristijan Mickoski, surprisingly demanded that the construction of the railway line to Bulgaria be stopped. The arguments are that the project for building the..

published on 8/5/24 4:04 PM

Balkan developments

Turkish minority in Western Thrace is a priority for Ankara, Turkish president says The problems of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace are a priority for Turkey in its dialogue with Greece. Ankara will continue to take care of “its..

updated on 7/26/24 1:14 PM