NEWS

Deutschlandfunk: The Bulgarian President of the citizens – why is Rosen Plevneliev so popular among the Bulgarian people

Bulgaria is going through a long-lasting crisis: at the beginning of the year the government tendered its resignation because of protests, currently there is opposition against corruption in politics. Only one person seems not to be suffering damage from that: Rosen Plevneliev. The President is popular and he has won recognition as a good manager in times of crisis. This is what a portrait of the Bulgarian Head of State broadcast by the German public radio Deutschlandfunk  says.

„Rosen Plevneliev has been Bulgaria’s Head of State for a year and a half. The computer engineer entered politics as a new face. An athletic figure, nice, 49-year- old, Plevneliev appeared in the middle of the Bulgarian party mess” the author Carla Engelhart recalled in the introduction of the material.

“I am one of the few enterpreneurs in politics – I come from the real economy sector and I have always argued one thing, on which we sometimes disagree with the other politicians – politicians do not create jobs, they do not coin money, this is what real economy does. However, the politicians are a platform for the development of the economy, for the development of the nation. And this is where Bulgaria failed to some extent – in creating a platform for a social society. Some politicians in Bulgaria truly believed that they are the appropriate people and it is namely they that should show in what direction we should head in and how we should do that,” the President said, quoted by the radio.

The public media recalled that “some of these politicians were forced to leave. For instance, this happened at the beginning of 2013 when the protests provoked by the extremely high prices of electricity, toppled the conservative government of Prime Minister Borisov. Then President Plevneliev distanced himself from all parties and staked on a dialogue with the protesters.”

However, the new elections held in May 2013 failed to give rise to a working government since Borisov’s GERB party, which won the greatest number of votes, failed to form such a government because it had no coalition partners. The socialists, who came second, after that formed a bold union with the Turkish party that is tolerated by the ultranationalist and anti-European party Attack. The wrong decisions that the government made afterwards, particularly regarding the appointments, made the people take to the streets,” the author goes on.

“The demonstrations became a long-lasting crisis in Bulgaria and the President of the citizens – a manager in times of crisis, who is very fond of the protest staged. In his view, the protest is an expression of the civil society in Bulgaria that has woken up,” Carla Engelhart said.

According to the Bulgarian President, we will not promptly come up with the solution, yet the process is very important. “I have one hope and one disappointment. The disappointment has to do with the fact that a great part of the Bulgarian politicians fail to understand today the great chance Bulgaria is given. How through this active civil society the European values and modern democracy are encouraged. However, the hope is that, no matter whether the politicians will change or not, the civil society is on the right road. It will succeed.  Any problematic decision, no matter which government makes it, will be identified and duly corrected by the citizens. I am happy that we will be engaged in more dialogues and more cooperation with the civil society,” the Head of State further added.  

“Rosen Plevneliev’s adherence to dialogue with the civil society, as well as to the German language, originated and developed in Germany. At the beginning of the 90’s, the young computer engineer started a business as a construction entrepreneur. His business was directed at hiring Bulgarian builders to work at construction sites in Germany. Plevneliev was not ashamed to alone roll up his sleeves. That is how he launched a business with the German company Lindner. When Lindner started building a big business park in Sofia, Plevneliev was appointed manager of the project.”

Werner Hoffman, who took over the management in Sofia, also speaks about his professional qualities: “ Rosen has already begun thinking as a German. This is what gives him advantage over many other people. He knows how to pursue his aims.”

“Rosen Plevneliev is a millionaire, which is not a hindrance to the positive image he has created as President. On the contrary, in corrupt Bulgaria this proves to be a sign of a politician’s relative independence. Moreover he has a charisma, charm and bravery,” the portrait made by the German public radio further adds.