site.btaUPDATED Discussion on Bulgaria in European Context Held on Eve of EU Elections

The role of large European political families, achieving majorities and political leadership in the European Parliament (EP) were the focus of a discussion on Bulgaria in the European context, organized on the eve of the EP elections by the European Parliament Bureau in Bulgaria. The event was hosted by the Peroto Literary Club at Sofia’s National Palace of Culture congress centre on Monday.

Teodor Stoychev, head of the EP Bureau in Bulgaria, pointed out that the upcoming EU elections are very important for the whole Union. He stressed that the majorities in the next EP will obviously be different on different European issues. Recent Eurobarometer surveys show that European citizens are aware of the extreme importance of the geopolitical moment and the major challenges facing the EU, Stoychev noted.

Political scientists Ivan Krastev and Daniel Smilov, as well as European Council on Foreign Relations Deputy Director Vessela Tcherneva took part in the discussion.

In his words, the 2019 European elections have been overshadowed by Brexit. Back then, 19 parties from different EU countries have demanded a referendum either on their country's participation in the EU or on the euro. Five years later, largely influenced by the coronavirus crisis and the war in Ukraine, many of the extreme parties suddenly stopped wanting to leave the EU, Krastev underscored. According to him, one of the most important features of the upcoming elections is the peculiar combination between fragmentation and polarisation.

Cherneva raised the issue of a possible rise of the far right and the far left. In her words, the leader of this faction for a long time was Viktor Orban, and now he is joined by Marine Le Pen, Giorgia Meloni and there is a risk of floating coalitions in the EU.

According to Smilov, the elections will not lead to some dramatic shifts in the European party families and the balances will be pretty much maintained. He expressed concern about the fact that the Eurosceptic vote in Bulgaria is radicalising. In his words, seeking support for possible votes in the new parliament would make majorities difficult.