On the day that Bulgaria marked the anniversary of the death of the Apostle Vasil Levski, the leader of GERB, Boyko Borissov, gathered supporters at the community center in Lyubimets. The venue was filled to capacity with people from Harmanli, Simeonovgrad, and Svilengrad, who were bused in and whose names were checked against a list.
Borisov’s remarks in the hall were met with applause and laughter, particularly when he tossed jokes about his political opponents.
Standing alongside the leader on the official podium were the mayors of Lyubimets, Harmanli, and Dimitrovgrad—Anastas Anastasov, Maria Kirkova, and Ivo Dimov—along with party activists Delyan Dobrev and Georgi Stankov.
The event was opened by the host, Mayor Anastas Anastasov.
“Over the last 12 years under the governance of GERB, my team and I have changed the city step by step, realizing large-scale projects and the long-standing dreams of the people of Lyubimets,” said Anastasov. “Here is the place, on behalf of my fellow citizens and personally from me, to thank you, Mr. Borissov.”
The mayor of Lyubimets undoubtedly has reasons to express gratitude! It was during the last term of GERB’s administration and Borisov that he became known for the questionable public procurement for his official vehicle.
On the Adoption of the Euro
During the meeting, Delyan Dobrev discussed the adoption of the euro, emphasizing that GERB had done everything necessary for its implementation but was obstructed, without specifying when or by whom.
“There are voices suggesting that we have adopted some law, and that’s why we cannot accept it (the euro),” Dobrev stated. “The lev, which they now claim they will save, has not existed since 1997. Since then, we have been on a currency board, and thank goodness for that. After that year, the state began to develop, especially in the last 10 years. During our government, by meeting all the criteria, Bulgaria entered the ‘waiting room’ of the eurozone in 2020,” added the deputy from Haskovo. “Immediately after that, protests against GERB began, because someone was financing them. Since then, Bulgaria has lost its direction and has been moving backward,” Dobrev further remarked to GERB activists.
In response to his statements, it is worth recalling an investigation by “For the Truth” regarding how the Smolyan Municipality financed the parents and other close relatives of the deputy.
How is a Lie “Rebroadcasted”?
Boyko Borissov explained to the audience in the hall that people in this region had the opportunity for GERB to construct the “Trakia” and “Maritsa” highways.
“When you head from Sofia to Ruse, it takes you four and a half hours to travel the same distance, and every day, people are killed there,” said the leader of GERB. “Those who have stopped these projects for two years have rebroadcasted lies, refuted by life and the facts. Here, at the Greek and Turkish borders, there is a saying: ‘Not me, life will return it to you.’ There is karma, and it has returned to them. In the ugliest and worst way. God rest the souls of those who die—children who perish,” said the former prime minister with a sad voice.
Highways, Highways…
Borisov also noted that the current government has increased the scope and payments for their contracts on the “Hemus” highway by two and a half times. “How does that happen?” he asked. “They calculate a 20% inflation rate, yet they pay 50% higher contracts? I cannot truly believe it,” he expressed his astonishment.
And “A Big Thank You to James O’Brien”
Borisov further stated that his political opponents did not support military aid for Ukraine, a responsibility taken up by the deputies of GERB. The party leader even mentioned that in an interview following the announcement of the new names on the “Magnitsky 2” list, James O’Brien, the head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the U.S. State Department, clearly distinguished the guilt of each and whether it pertained to political parties. “And in this speculation, a big thank you to James O’Brien for clarifying that GERB is the party that everyone relies on to keep Bulgaria within the European community,” he said.
If There Were a Golden Raspberry for Promises…
“When they came here to Haskovo, they said there was zero migration—and this was from the Prime Minister of England, the Hungarian, the Austrian, and I won’t enumerate them all. Bulgaria was given as an example and nearly 300 million leva was gifted for the fact that Bulgarians are protecting the border like this,” Borisov continued his peculiar speech.
“Only GERB is Clean Here!”
“When we were chairing the EU, we were with the leading three countries—Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. At that time, it was decided that Bulgaria is the most reliable border of the European Union, but as of yesterday, what Schengen are we talking about? Do they not read about what is happening in Bulgaria, how human trafficking channels operate under protection?” Borisov said to his party colleagues in Lyubimets. “Yes, only GERB is clean here because during our time, migration was zero. Who renewed it in two years? What they did, I don’t know, but all of Europe is talking about what a leaky border we have.”
In fact, Bulgaria is not in Schengen because there has been no progress in judicial reform, there is a poorly functioning rule of law, and the country receives devastating external assessments regarding the level of corruption and manipulation in the judiciary. Additionally, the security of the European external border is unstable and questionable.
These opinions have been expressed by Western politicians for years, but they were never taken seriously by the governments of GERB and Borisov. In exchange, important phytosanitary control activities at the “Kaptan Andreevo” border crossing were replaced by private companies, which created what is known as the “golden pond.”
A Card Game and Ovations
“Who resolved the issue with Lukoil?” Borisov asked his supporters in Lyubimets. He answered himself: “Us again. We passed a change in the legislation. Since July 17 of last year, we’ve been drilling into your ears that they take one lev for every liter you refuel. Life has proven it—war is bloody! And whether oil is cheaper or expensive, I don’t know.”
Yes, life has proven that former Lukoil Neftohim head Valentin Zlatev was among Borisov’s favorite card players. Perhaps for this reason, for an entire decade coinciding with all his terms as prime minister, the refinery has not paid corporate tax to the state, even though its turnover has been measured in billions.
“I will no longer allow the party to be attacked with lies and manipulations,” Borisov concluded his speech before the GERB supporters in Lyubimets. The hall responded with applause and chants of “Borisov, Borisov!”
