In recent weeks, Bulgaria’s political life started to revolve around the so-called “compromising materials” - publicly disclosed materials discrediting major political figures. The forms of the "game" change - from audio recordings of conversations, through photo visualization of intimate moments from the private lives of politicians, to SMS-conversations and chats on social networks between government officials and businessmen. The background against which this is being done - the relentless spread of Covid-19, further reinforces the feeling of instability and an almost "pandemic" escalation of tension in the socio-political life of the country. What is the opinion of political analysts?

According to the lecturer at the University of Veliko Tarnovo, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivo Indjov, the exchange of text messages and the publication of audio recordings and chats between businessmen and government officials or people close to them is not an end in itself.

"There is no single plot. Such means of communication are being introduced into mass use and we do not know what is true, what is part of the truth and what is a lie. But if these means, used as compromising material, turn out to be real information accusing someone of excessive power, and if the investigating authorities remain silent, it will provoke public anger. It is important that in the approaching pre-election period, political forces and civic associations come out with clearer and more targeted messages. They need to inspire hope in the disillusioned Bulgarian people. Only criticism of the opponents does not suffice to accumulate political dividends."

In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, the professor of political science at New Bulgarian University Evgenii Dainov stated that "the government in this country has nothing to do with politics":

"Politics means the transparent exercise of power before the eyes and control of the public and within the limits imposed by law and the constitution. There is no politics in Bulgaria. We have people in power. Decisions are taken secretly and therefore blows are dealt via secret compromising materials against each other, i.e. we have the exercise of power, the struggle for power and the struggle for someone not to lose power. The only form of politics happening in Bulgaria and meeting the definition of politics are the protests. Obviously, they will increase, because a modern society cannot live without politics. But citizens cannot compensate for the fact that we have governing authorities that are out of control and exist only to consume public resources. There's the “bottle stopper”. Small reforms will not solve the problem. We have to start from scratch. Just as there was no politics before 1989, so there is no politics now.

Why has the public discussion about compromising materials and not about politics become the leading one, and is there a chance that this will change?

"A good chance should never be ruled out if we want something positive to happen," says political scientist Prof. Petar-Emil Mitev. “However, now we have several key points. The two major parties - the ruling GERB and the opposition BSP - are in a critical and, most likely, pre-crisis phase. And against the background of the current war of compromising materials, both look pathetic. The public gets the feeling that we are slowly and almost imperceptibly sinking into a swamp, due to a lack of basic decency and integrity. However, new political projects are being prepared. Although not yet clear enough, we are seeing attempts at an alternative to the current government. We will be able to make clearer forecasts, perhaps, in the autumn."

Based on various materials, Edited by Krasimir Martinov

Photos: Ani Petrova and BGNES