site.btaDemocracy Is No Magic, It Needs Conditions to Exist - Academician Georgi Markov

Democracy Is No Magic, It Needs Conditions to Exist - Academician Georgi Markov

Sofia, November 3 (BTA) - Democracy is no magic, it needs
conditions to exist, historian Academician Georgi Markov said in
 a video interview for BTA. This is a history lesson for today's
 politicians who should not rely only on slogans for democracy
and rule of the people alone, he noted.

It is complicated to make historical parallels, but Markov says
the present situation reminds him very much of the governance of
 the Popular Bloc in the 20th century when there were many
parties in Parliament, a coalition government, government
crises, and a political crisis coupled with an economic one.

The military staged a coup d'etat on May 19, 1934, the National
Assembly was dissolved for four years, parties were banned and
no one went out to protest in the streets as people were totally
 in despair at that time, the historian recalls.

In that crisis involving unemployment, falling agricultural
produce prices and factory closures, there was such a
devaluation of democracy that people lost interest in it, Markov
 explained.

In his opinion, today's politicians should rally round several
national priorities and have a strategic view for more than one
mandate.

Markov is also concerned with the steadily diminishing voter
turnout, and advises Bulgarians to vote as this will change
political life.