Vessela Tcherneva: ‘From the citizens’ perspective Bulgaria today is the best place we’ve been for many years’

In this new Digital Debates talk with Carl Henrik Fredriksson, Vessela Tcherneva, head of the Sofia office of the ECFR think tank, talks about the democratic renewal in Bulgaria, after the latest elections, and a new coalition taking over from long-standing PM Boyko Borissov.

Published on 9 December 2021

After no less than three elections in one year, Bulgaria finally seems to have found a majority for democratic renewal, as a new coalition takes over from long-standing Conservative prime minister Boyko Borissov, who has been in power for 12 years. But what is the potential for change in one of the most corrupt countries in the EU?

Not bad, says Vessela Tcherneva, head of the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, in a new Debates Digital talk with Carl Henrik Fredriksson.

At least the plans of the new 4-party coalition focus on the right things: economy, education, health care. And in the controversial talks to neighbouring North Macedonia a new, more constructive tone can be expected.

This article is part of the Debates Digital project, a series of digitally published content including texts and live discussions by some of the outstanding writers, scholars and public intellectuals who are part of the Debates on Europe network.


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