site.btaZhelyazkov Cabinet Enjoys Public Approval at the Start of Its Term - Poll

Rosen Zhelyazkov's government is enjoying a good public approval rating, according to a national survey conducted by Alpha Research among 1,000 adults between January 15 and 20 and released on Thursday. Some 39% of all respondents had a positive view of the Cabinet, another 29% had a negative one, and nearly one in three, or 32%, had no opinion on the matter.

The previous regular government to enjoy a positive rating at the start of its term was Kiril Petkov's with 35% approval against 23% disapproval, Alpha Research reported. The most popular government at the start of its term was Boyko Borissov's first one in 2009, which saw 47% approval against only 8% disapproval.

Alpha Research noted that the positive assessment of the current government at this stage is likely a reflection of the relief from the end of the political crisis and the hope of unblocking processes in numerous areas.

Nearly 70% of all respondents expressed support for the formation of a new government, while another 19% were in favour of early elections. The remaining 11.5% expressed no opinion. Support for a regular government dominates among the supporters of all political parties with the only exception being the supporters of Morality, Unity, Honour (MECh), who are polarized on the matter.

Attitudes towards Prime Minister Zhelyazkov are polarized with 29% of respondents saying that they trust him, while another 26% do not. The remaining 46% are yet to form an opinion about him. The bigger support for the government compared to that for the prime minister stems from the fact that Zhelyazkov is a political figure that is unambiguously associated with GERB, which is why GERB supporters stand firmly behind him, while supporters of the other partners in the ruling coalition tend to have a neutral opinion of him.

No significant shifts in electoral attitudes

The answer to the question "Which party would you vote for, if the parliamentary elections were held this weekend?" suggests that Parliament would once again be comprised of eight political entities.

GERB would retain their leadership position with 26% of the votes.

Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and Vazrazhdane would contest the second place with 13.4% and 13.1% respectively.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) – New Beginning would end up with 10.8% of the vote, followed by BSP – United Left with 8%, Democracy, Rights and Freedoms – DRF with 7.5% and There Is Such a People (TISP) with 6.2%.

MECh would barely be able to enter Parliament 4%, the absolute minimum required.

No major changes in trust in political leaders

• GERB leader continues to enjoy the highest trust with 24.4%, while 49.4% of the respondents said that they distrust him.
• CC Co-Chair Kiril Petkov's trust to distrust ratio is 10.4% to 68.4%. The other CC Co-Chair Assen Vassilev registered similar figures with 10.3% to 68.2%. DB Chair Atanas Atanassov's ratio is 9.6% to 51.9%.
• Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov trust to distrust ratio is 16.8% to 55.9%.
• MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski is trusted by 5.8% of the respondents against 79.9% who do not.
• DRF's Ahmed Dogan has a ratio of 6.2% to 67.1%.
• Acting Bulgarian Socialist Party Chair Atanas Zafirov's ratio is 12.5% to 42.3%.
• TISP leader Slavi Trifonov's ratio is 15% to 44.3%.
• MECh Chair Radostin Vasilev's ratio is 9% to 47.8%.

President Rumen Radev registers a positive trend in attitudes

In less than a year, positive ratings for the head of State increased by five percentage points, while negative ratings decreased by seven percentage points. Radev's approval rating reached 44% against a disapproval rating of 31%. One of the explanations for this is that the presidency is the only institution in the country's governance that has remained without significant turbulence over the past few years. The crisis in the political system, the failure of the parties to have a dialogue and reach solutions, the erosion of parliamentary representation are all factors that have benefited the President, the survey pointed out.