Bulgaria: a non-representative “democracy” case, part 2 w/ Bozhin Traykov

“On the Barricades” s06e48

Boyan speaks to Bozhin Traknov, a political commentator, analyst, journalist and teacher in Bulgaria, in a second of two parts on the April 2 Bulgarian elections and their importance to a number of questions. They continue to break down this so-called “civilizational choice” that the elections— the fifth in two years— were supposed to pose to the apathetic electorate: between loyalty to NATO / “European values”, and the widely based sympathies toward Russia. Boyan and Bozhin turn now to the party which stood out to collect more disenfranchised voters this time around, opportunizing on pro-Russia, anti-NATO sympathies and the desire for a functional state. This is the confused but evolving political entity, Vuzrazhdane or Revival. Who is the figure who has emerged to lead Revival: Kostadin Konstadinov? Where does it seem such a political project will fall short? And how, looking forward, how could the Left in Bulgaria get back on its feet in some way?