While leaders of Europe's far-right, racist parties gathered in Milan, Italy, Bulgaria found a way out of its long-term economic and social collapse on the "left"...
Leaders of far-right and racist parties, calling themselves "European Patriots," gathered in Milan's most touristy square, Duomo, for a rally titled "We Are Masters in Our Own Home." They criticized the European Union's energy management and declared their support for a return to Russian oil and gas. Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's far-right Lega party and Deputy Prime Minister, also clarified his "repatriation" policy regarding immigrants living in Europe. Stating that they want to prioritize immigrants who are culturally close to Europe, Salvini explained, "Repatriation doesn't mean sending everyone you meet on the street back to their countries; it means that residence permits and citizenship are a contract of trust. We guarantee you social rights and free healthcare, but like a points-based driving license system, if you make a mistake, points will be deducted from your residence permit. After a certain number of mistakes, you will return to your country."
Far-right party leaders meeting in Milan "greeted" Viktor Orban, who lost the recent elections in Hungary two weeks ago, saying, "You defended the borders, you fought against human and arms traffickers. Let's continue this fight together for freedom and the rule of law." In Hungary, far-right leader Viktor Orban lost the election after four consecutive terms, handing over his seat to Peter Magyar. Magyar's Tisza party secured a two-thirds majority in the 199-seat Hungarian Parliament with 138 deputies. Following Magyar's victory in Hungary, a center-left alliance also triumphed in Bulgaria last weekend's elections.
In Bulgaria, former pro-Russian President Rumen Radev achieved a major victory in the general elections. According to official results released by the Bulgarian election commission, Radev's center-left "Progressive Bulgaria" alliance secured enough seats to form a government alone. The Progressive Bulgaria alliance pulled off a major surprise, winning 132 of the 240 seats in parliament with 44.7% of the vote.
Bulgaria's new leader, 62-year-old Radev, will become prime minister of the center-left "Progressive Bulgaria" alliance, which he formed after resigning from his position as president last January following nine years in office. Bulgaria, which went to the polls amidst political instability, has seen its voters go to the ballot box eight times in the last five years. In the seven elections held since the 2021 election, where conservative Prime Minister Boyko Borisov suffered a heavy defeat, stability could not be achieved. Borisov's party only managed to get 13.4% of the vote in the last election.
Former president Rumen Radev, who entered the election campaign with a promise to fight corruption, said in his first speech in Sofia, "This is a victory of hope against insecurity, a victory of freedom against fear." Bulgaria, which became a full member of the EU in 2007, abandoned its national currency, the Lev, and adopted the Euro last January. Radev, who emerged victorious in the recent elections in Bulgaria, the poorest member of the EU, stated in his first speech that he would make every effort to continue progressing on the European path. Radev said, “But believe me, a strong Bulgaria and a strong Europe need critical thinking and pragmatism.” The EU needs not only stronger critical thinking and pragmatism, but also less external dependence and faster decision-making mechanisms…
