Boyko Borisov

In this Bulgarian name, the patronymic is Metodiev and the family name is Borisov.

Boyko Borisov
Бойко Борисов
Borisov in 2017
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
In office
4 May 2017 – 12 May 2021
PresidentRumen Radev
Deputy
See list
Preceded byOgnyan Gerdzhikov
Succeeded byStefan Yanev
In office
7 November 2014 – 27 January 2017
President
Deputy
See list
Preceded byGeorgi Bliznashki
Succeeded byOgnyan Gerdzhikov
In office
27 July 2009 – 13 March 2013
President
Deputy
See list
Preceded bySergey Stanishev
Succeeded byMarin Raykov
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 April 2023
Constituency16th MMC – Plovdiv
In office
21 May 2013 – 7 November 2014
Constituency25th MMC – Sofia
Leader of GERB
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 January 2010
Preceded byTsvetan Tsvetanov
Mayor of Sofia
In office
10 November 2005 – 27 July 2009
Preceded byStefan Sofiyanski
Succeeded byYordanka Fandakova
Personal details
Born
Boyko Metodiev Borisov

(1959-06-13) 13 June 1959 (age 65)
Sofia, PR Bulgaria
Political partyGERB (since 2006)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Stela Borisova
​
(divorced)​
ChildrenVeneta Borisova
Alma materAcademy of the Ministry of Interior, in Sofia
Signature
Websitewww.boykoborissov.bg
Association football career
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Vitosha Bistritsa[1] 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Boyko Metodiev Borisov[a] (Bulgarian: Бойко Методиев Борисов, born 13 June 1959) is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on three separate occasions, serving a total of 9 years between 2009 and 2021, making him the country's longest-serving post-communist Prime Minister. A member of the GERB party, which he founded and currently leads, he previously served as Mayor of Sofia from 2005 to 2009. Borisov remains politically active to date and is currently a Member of the National Assembly.

Borisov was elected mayor of Sofia in 2005. In December 2005, he was the founding chair of the conservative political party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), becoming its lead candidate in the 2009 general election. Borisov led GERB to a landslide victory in 2009, defeating the incumbent Socialist Party, and resigned as mayor of Sofia to be sworn in as prime minister. He resigned in 2013, after nationwide protests against the government's energy policy, but after leading GERB to victory in the 2014 general election, he became prime minister again. His second term ended similarly to his first, after Borisov resigned in January 2017, this time following GERB's defeat in the 2016 presidential election. As before, Borisov led GERB to election victory again in the snap 2017 general election, becoming prime minister for a third time.

Under Borisov's cabinets Bulgaria saw improved macroeconomic stability and political stability while remaining the EU's poorest member, with nearly a quarter of its population below national poverty lines.[2] Foreign direct investment fell and corruption have led as recently as June 2019 to repeated rejection of Bulgaria's attempts to join the Schengen Area.[3] Electoral results for Borisov and his party were overshadowed by allegations of fraud in 2013,[4] 2015,[5] and in 2019 both locally and for the European Parliament.[6] Judicial threats and attacks against journalists increased to the point where journalism in Bulgaria became "dangerous" according to Reporters Without Borders, which ranked Bulgaria 111th globally in press freedom in 2019.[7] Former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew said in 2019 that a "national political environment with little government or criminal accountability and no serious opposition to challenge the current government" was in place as a result of collusion, corruption and stifling of the media under Borisov.[8] On 17 March 2022, Borisov was detained after allegations of misuse of EU funds, he was released after spending 24 hours in prison.[9][10]

In 2013 Borisov became the oldest person ever to play for a Bulgarian professional club when he appeared for FC Vitosha Bistritsa in the B Group, the second division of Bulgarian football.[11]

Early life and family

[edit]

Borisov was born in 1959 in Bankya (then a village, today a town, part of Stolichna Municipality) to the Ministry of Internal Affairs official Metodi Borisov and elementary school teacher Veneta Borisova. Borisov has claimed that his grandfather was executed by the communists for being a Nikola Petkov supporter in the wake of the Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944. This has been disputed, however, as Nikola Petkov was still an ally of the communist insurgents in 1944. Furthermore, Borisov's later rise within the ranks of communist-era security services would have been unlikely with such family background.[12] Other sources point that Borisov's grandfather either died during a criminal incident,[13] or that both his grandfathers died peacefully in the 1960s and 1970s.[12]

In 1977 Borisov graduated from Bankya's high school with excellent grades.[14] Between 1982 and 1990, he assumed different positions in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a firefighter and later as a professor at the Police Academy in Sofia.[15] As a National Security Office member, Borisov took part in the protection of crops and haylofts during the name-changing campaign towards ethnic Turks in the 1980s.[16] From 1985 to 1990, Borisov was a lecturer at the Higher Institute for Police Officers Training and Scientific Research of the Ministry of Interior.

Borisov quit the Ministry in 1991 with the rank of major, after formally refusing to renounce his Communist Party membership or "depoliticise". In 1991 he founded a private security company, Ipon-1. He subsequently became bodyguard to Bulgaria's last communist leader, Todor Zhivkov, after the latter was overthrown in 1989,[17] and to Simeon II. Borisov has been claiming participation in karate championships since 1978, serving as the coach of the Bulgarian national team and a referee of international matches. He said to United States President Barack Obama that he has a 7th dan black belt in karate, but his coach denied this, and stated that Borisov has never been even a karate competitor, but only an administrator of the team.[18][19]

Borisov is divorced, but for a number of years lived with Tsvetelina Borislavova, head of Bulgarian American Credit Bank. Borisov has a daughter, Veneta, from his former marriage to the physician Stela. Borisov also has a sister, Krasimira Ivanova.[citation needed]

Civil servant

[edit]

Boyko Borisov was the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior between 2001 and 2005, with the rank of General.[20][21][22][23][24][25] During that period, he became famous for getting the notorious mobster Sreten Jocić apprehended.[26][27]

In the 2005 parliamentary elections he was a parliamentary candidate of the National Movement Simeon II; he was elected in two regions but decided to retain his job as Chief Secretary of the Ministry. Later in 2005, he resigned from that post, instead of standing as a candidate in the mayoral election in Sofia. He was elected as Mayor and succeeded Stefan Sofiyanski.[28] He was re-elected in the 2007 election.

First term as prime minister of Bulgaria

[edit]
See also: First Borisov Government

Borisov's party GERB also won the parliamentary election on 5 July 2009 by collecting 39.72% of the popular vote and 117 of the 240 seats in parliament.[29][30]

Since 27 July 2009 Borisov served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria in a GERB-dominated centre-right minority government[31][32] with parliamentary support from three other parliamentary groups, including the nationalist party Ataka. He invited several non-party affiliated experts to the government, most prominent among them Simeon Dyankov, a former high-ranking World Bank official, and Rosen Plevneliev, manager of a large German subsidiary in Bulgaria.

Domestic policy

[edit]
Borisov in 2009

Borisov's stated policies were mostly aimed at curbing corruption in the public administration[33] and building an adequate infrastructure. One of the main goals in this direction was the expansion of the national motorway network, of which Lyulin was the first motorway to be completed.[34] The government also approved a strategy for the development of the energy sector until 2020, which includes the completion of gas interconnectors with Greece, Romania, and Turkey and expanding renewable energy capacities. The Borisov government stopped the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project[35][36] after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The acquisition of European funds has increased from 2.6%[37] to 20%.[38]

Borisov with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, September 2010

Specialized police actions have tackled corruption in the administration and a number of high-profile members of the organized crime have been imprisoned, though as of May 2011 there was little improvement in the rule of law.[39] At the same time the government has been criticized by other EU members for the erosion of media freedom, falling attractiveness to investors and continuing mafia activities.[40] These criticisms were repeatedly leveled against Deputy Prime Minister Tzvetan Tzvetanov, who is formally under investigation for wiretapping members of the government and parliament. During his trial, his actions were found to be justified. Media leaks raised suspicions that Borisov may have tried to interfere in the case.[41]

According to France24, "Once in power, he toured the country incessantly to inaugurate infrastructure projects but failed to enact structural reforms or to tackle the rampant corruption and organized crime that Brussels has long complained about".[17] In January 2011 Euractive wrote, "The ineffective judiciary has been largely unable to send to jail any high-profile criminals".[42]

Borisov is a strong supporter of the total smoking ban. Although initially removing the ban introduced by the previous government, the Borisov Cabinet reintroduced it in 2012[43] with the aim to reduce the number of smokers from 40% of the population to about 15–20%.[44] By 2013, the ban had led to a 3–4% decrease in cigarette sales.[45]

Following public opposition Borisov's government banned hydraulic fracturing for shale gas exploration and extraction. A permit granted to Chevron for shale gas exploration was revoked, and any violation of the ban is subject to a 100 million leva ($58 million) fine.[46]

Protests of doctors and other health professionals broke out in 2010 over failure to reform the health care sector, resulting in delayed payments and salaries. In March 2010, health minister Bozhidar Nanev resigned over a conflict of interest scandal. He was replaced by Anna-Maria Borisova, whom Boyko Borisov met accidentally on an intersection near Veliko Tarnovo and decided was fit to carry out the reform.[47] She resigned a mere six months later, failing to implement any reforms.[48]

Hillary Clinton holds a joint press conference with Borisov at the Council of Ministers in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 5 February 2012.

Resignation

[edit]

France's TotalEnergies energy company was granted an oil and gas exploration licence in 2012 to prospect for fossil fuels in Bulgaria's economic area of the Black Sea. TotalEnergies won the tender in competition with ExxonMobil and United Kingdom's Melrose Resources, which had – as of 2012 – three exploration licences for areas of Bulgaria's Black Sea shelf.[49] This decision was hotly debated by the political opposition and led to the start of nationwide strikes in the fall and winter of 2012.[50]

Following the new eruption of nationwide protests on 12 February 2013 over high energy costs, low living standards and corruption, Borisov and his government resigned on 20 February. Before that, Borisov had accepted the resignation of Finance Minister Simeon Djankov after a dispute over farm subsidies and promised a cut in power prices and punishing foreign-owned companies—a potential risk in damaging Bulgaria–Czech Republic relations—but protests continued. He then said: "I will not participate in a government under which police are beating people." The election due in summer was rescheduled for 12 May 2013. Djankov's resignation was a blow to Borisov's center-right credentials, since Djankov spearheaded the reforms during their term in office. He was also regarded as able manager of the public administration.

The European People's Party expressed support for Borisov a month before the 2013 parliamentary elections.[51]

Later in April, Borisov's former Agriculture minister Miroslav Naydenov revealed that the government had spied on several cabinet ministers, business figures and the opposition under orders of Tsvetan Tsvetanov, deputy chairman of GERB. Several members of parliament corroborated these claims, as well as members of the wiretapping unit in the Interior Ministry.[52]

Second term as prime minister of Bulgaria

[edit]
See also: Second Borisov Government

Domestic policy

[edit]
Borisov with Ilham Aliyev.

During Borisov's second government, the business climate and promised reforms took a nosedive. "Reforms failed to get off the ground, in particular, changes to the justice system and plans to help cash-strapped schools and the creaking health care system".[17] Additionally, Bulgaria's parliament rejected an anti-corruption law.[17]

The cultivation of genetically modified crops was banned in 2015.[53]

Foreign policy

[edit]

Borisov's government saw the cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline project.[54] Russia and Gazprom lobbied for the pipeline's construction, which would have circumvented existing, insecure gas pipelines passing through Ukraine, and would have continued into Central Europe.[55] Borisov's government instead emphasized an interconnector link with Romania, Greece, Turkey and Serbia, to redistribute natural gas from multiple sources.[56]

A fence was built along the border with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants during the European migrant crisis. Border control was also tightened. Some 17,000 people were detained by October 2016, down by more than a third compared to 2015. A riot broke out in a migrant camp near Harmanli in 2016, prompting a police response with water cannons and rubber bullets, and later a closure of the camp.[57]

Third term as prime minister of Bulgaria

[edit]
See also: Third Borisov Government
Borisov with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło, September 2017
Borisov with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, January 2018
Borisov with French President Emmanuel Macron, May 2018
Borisov with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, June 2018

After the 2017 parliamentary elections, Borisov became prime minister again, beginning his third term in this position. On 27 April, President Rumen Radev handed Borisov the mandate for the forming of Bulgaria's new government.[58] Reuters wrote, "Bulgaria's centre-right GERB party signed a coalition agreement on Thursday [4/27/17] with a nationalist alliance that will bring former prime minister Boiko Borisov back to power for his third term since 2009".[59] By 2018, foreign direct investment had collapsed to 2% of GDP, or $1.13 billion. A number of major foreign companies, including E.ON, Modern Times Group, ČEZ Group, Société Générale and Telenor initiated their withdrawal from the Bulgarian market either due to poor profitability or corruption and government interference.[60][61]

In June 2018 a public tender was launched to build the natural gas interconnector link with Turkey. Borisov's plans to build a Balkan Gas Hub near Varna aims to ensure competition between Russian gas supplies from TurkStream, Azerbaijani gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivered via Greece.[62] However, analyst Vasko Nachev noted that the gas connection to Greece is not linked to any transiting gas pipelines and that the anticipated new delivery routes are "non-existent".[63]

Boyko Borisov and Angela Merkel

During a regional summit Borisov announced that Bulgaria will participate in a joint bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2028 with Serbia, Romania and Greece.[64]

Borisov received Order of the Republic of Serbia in February 2019. He thanked the Serbian president in the name of Bulgarian people, promised to further help Serbian EU agenda and the overall relations of the two neighboring states.[65]

In March 2019 a journalist investigation revealed that real estate company Arteks had sold a luxury property at prices sharply lower than the market value to a number of senior government officials. These include justice minister Tsetska Tsacheva, GERB deputy chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov and deputy sports minister Vanya Koleva, who all subsequently resigned. Deputy Energy minister Krasimir Parvanov, Supreme Judicial Council member Gergana Mutafova and GERB MP Vezhdi Rashidov had also obtained sub-market price real estate from Arteks.[66] Additionally, anti-corruption commission head Plamen Georgiev, National Investigative Service head Borislav Sarafov and tourism minister Nikolina Angelkova were implicated in similar schemes.[67] Another journalist investigation also revealed that, back in 2015, the anti-corruption commission under Plamen Georgiev had terminated an investigation into irregularities in Tsvetan Tsvetanov's declared revenue and real estate evaluations.[68]

President Donald Trump meets with Boyko Borisov 25 November 2019, in the Oval Office of the White House.

Further investigations revealed that Borisov's deputy economy minister, Aleksandar Manolev, built a private dwelling using funds from an EU development program. Numerous similar estates, built as bed and breakfast houses using EU funds, were revealed to have been used as private property in a similar manner. Overall, 749 guesthouses were revealed to have been built under the programme since 2007. The Attorney General's office launched an investigation following the reports.[69]

Borisov's government received further criticism for its handling of African swine fever virus outbreaks which caused the culling of tens of thousands of pigs in several regions in July 2019. EU Health and Food Safety commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said that Bulgaria "had not done much" to prevent the outbreak and was facing the prospect of losing its entire pig farming industry to the disease.[70] Additionally, culled pigs were hastily buried, sometimes close to bodies of water, instead of incinerated, as the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency had previously closed down an incinerator in the affected region.[71]

In October 2019 Borisov urged European Union to stop its criticism of Turkey,[72] adding that Bulgaria's relations with Turkey are good-neighbourly.[73] Several days later on 15 October, Bulgaria turned harsher, condemning the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria and firmly insisting that it immediately stop.[74]

On 25 October 2020 Borisov tested positive for COVID-19. He said on Facebook that he had "general malaise."[75] By 10 November, he had made a recovery from the disease.[76] While Bulgaria initially reacted quickly by taking strong measures against COVID-19 in March 2020, Borisov's handling of the pandemic subsequently drew sharp criticism as the country was severely affected during the autumn months after a loosening of restrictions over the course of the summer season.[77][78]

After the April 2021 Bulgarian parliamentary election, wherein GERB, while coming first, seemed unlikely to form a government, Borisov made a statement commending GERBs electoral performance and denigrating the result of other parties, while simultaneously offering the possibility of co-governace.[79]

During a cabinet session on 7 April Borisov once again criticised the other parliamentary parties for refusing to cooperate with GERB, however made a surprising offer to provide "10 MPs" in order to support a government formed by Slavi Trifonov.[80]

On 14 April Borisov confirmed that he would not be GERB's nomination for the position of Prime Minister during the subsequent round of government formation.[81]

On 15 April Borisov officially submitted the resignation of his cabinet to the National Assembly,[82] With the cabinet's resignation being approved by the National Assembly on the following day, despite attempted obstruction by GERB MPs.[83] Subsequently, Borisov took the role of Acting Prime Minister.

Immediately after the acceptance of his resignation, Borisov declared his intention to 'go on vacation', posting a picture of himself playing football with his two grandchildren on 17 April.[84]

On 19 April Borisov was hospitalised and urgently operated due to suffering a knee injury while playing football.[85] On 20 April, Borisov was seen walking within the hospital and interacting with other patients.[86]

On 21 April Borisov released a video of himself petting his dog, Borko, at his residence in the town of Bankya, which was seen as a provocation to the National Assembly which had summoned him to appear to parliament on the day.[87] On the day Borisov also claimed he would participate in the upcoming Presidential Elections if a Caretaker Government was appointed.[88]

On 12 May after the failure of governments formations, Borisov officially ceased to be Prime Minister, being replaced by Stefan Yanev in a caretaker capacity.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye

[edit]

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey Berat Albayrak met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Energy Minister Temenuzkha Petkova in Sofia. During the meetings, cooperation in the fields of natural gas and electricity was discussed and an agreement was reached to activate the high cooperation potential in these areas.Berat Albayrak, Sofya'da Temaslarda Bulundu

Rivalry with President Radev

[edit]
Main article: Rumen Radev § Rivalry with Prime Minister Borisov

Borisov spent much of his term locked in an institutional war with President Rumen Radev, the latter an opposition-sponsored independent and former Air Force General that defeated Borisov's preferred candidate in the 2016 Bulgarian presidential election. The two became bitter rivals, accusing each other of leading the country into crisis.[89] This would eventually lead to President Radev supporting the 2020–2021 protests against Borisov's government.[90]

Post-prime ministerial political activity

[edit]
Borisov with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the EPP Congress in Bucharest, on 6 March 2024

Extra-Parliamentary GERB leader

[edit]

On 11 May, shortly before the end of Borisov's tenure as PM, Borisov initiated a number of changes within the GERB party during the annual conference, including demoting members of the Leadership Council such as Yordanka Fandakova.[91] Similarly, Borisov promised to do more in order to promote "youth" within the GERB party.

In the run-up to the Snap Parliamentary Elections in July, Boyko Borisov engaged in criticism of the Yanev Caretaker Cabinet. For one, Borisov contested claims made by Caretaker Finance Minister, Asen Vasilev, that the government budget lacked funds by pointing to the continuation of COVID-era fiscal policies.[92] Borisov further criticized changes made within the civil service by the Caretaker Government, claiming that they were done in the interest of President Radev.[93]

Borisov particularly engaged in verbal altercations with the Caretaker Minister of Interior, Boyko Rashkov, who he accused of being a Communist and implementing "Radev's orders" to eliminate GERB.[94] In turn, Rashkov accused Borisov of being potentially implicit in criminal activity and of being protected by the General Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev.[95]

On 15 July 2021, Borisov was interrogated by members of the Ministry of Interior in relation to criminal activity.[96] Subsequently, on the 24th of July, Borisov accused Rashkov of being an alcoholic and of attempting to intimidate GERB politicians.[97]

Throughout August 2021, Borisov similarly criticised the parliamentary parties for their inability to form a government and "take responsibility".[98]

During the pre-election campaign for the Snap Parliamentary Elections in November, Borisov made a number of severe criticisms of the Yanev Caretaker Cabinet, claiming he had never seen such a "difficult crisis" as the one created by the Caretaker Cabinet.[99] He further alleged that the Caretaker Cabinet was involved in attempts to "manipulate" the election results.[100]

Despite being a list leader for GERB at all three elections in 2021, Boyko Borisov consistently refused to become an MP.[101]

Following the formation of the Petkov Government, Borisov consistently criticised the new government. Specifically, he attacked the proposed budget of Minister of Finance, Asen Vasilev, who he accused of increasing the national debt and threatening Bulgaria's fiscal stability.[102] Additionally criticising the response of the governing coalition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[103]

[edit]

On 6 January 2022, Borisov was called for an interrogation by the Ministry of Interior in relation to an ongoing case surrounding money laundering and corruption, with Borisov denying all allegations against his person.[104]

On 2 February, Minister of Interior in the Petkov government, Boyko Rashkov, announced that new case files had arrived to the Ministry about Borisov's activity in the "Barcelona-gate" controversy.[105]

On 17 March 2022, Boyko Borisov was arrested by the Ministry of Interior, together with former Minister of Finance, Vladislav Goranov and GERB media-advisor Sevdalina Arnaudova.[106] The arrest was made due to a signal made by businessman Vasil Bozhkov, to the State Financial Inspection Agency, as well as due to signal's sent by Bulgarian civic organisations to the European Public Prosecutor's Office.[107] His lawyer further confirmed that Borisov was held under suspicion of committing extortion.

The arrest was followed by a mixed reaction in Bulgarian society, with his arrest being celebrated by politician's supporting the incumbent government as an important step in tackling corruption.[108] However, it was also followed by protests organised by GERB outside of the Ministerial Council Building which demanded Borisov's release.[109] Additionally, leading figures of the EPP, including Manfred Weber, condemned the arrest as violating the principles of "rule of law".[110]

Borisov was released from detainment on 18 March, alleging that the country had returned under communist rule and expressing fear for his life.[111] In a later press briefing on 24 March, he claimed that his arrest was related to his support of Euroatlanticist political views and compared himself to Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.[112]

On 5 April, the Specialised Prosecutors Office opened an investigation into the possibility of illegal activity surrounding Borisov's arrest.[113]

The Sofia Administrative Court ruled that Borisov's arrest had taken place illegally on 23 August, thus confirming a prior ruling of the Sofia Regional Court made in April.[114]

Member of the 49th National Assembly

[edit]

Controversies

[edit]

Allegations of corruption and connections with organized crime

[edit]

Periodically ensuing corruption scandals and controversies has led to reports of high levels of corruption in Borisov's government. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, compiled by Transparency International, Borisov's government was as corrupt as previous governments, with two of his closest ministers – Tzvetan Tzvetanov and Miroslav Naydenov—investigated by the Prosecutor General and the Tax Authority for taking bribes while in office. Borisov has nonetheless campaigned on an anti-corruption message.[115] Despite Borisov's initial promise, no representative of previous cabinets has so far been convicted.

Bokyo Borisov was accused of mafia ties by former ambassador to Bulgaria John Beyrle in 2006, in a leaked memo published by Wikileaks, of facilitating and covering up illegal deals with LUKOIL and trafficking methamphetamines. [116]

In 2007 Boyko Borisov was accused by the magazine U.S. Congressional Quarterly (CQ) of being directly linked to the biggest mobsters in Bulgaria. CQ asserted that, "the most powerful politician in Bulgaria, Washington's newest ally in the global war on terror, is a close associate of known mobsters and linked to almost 30 unsolved murders in the Black Sea republic."[117] According to a confidential report compiled by former top U.S. law enforcement agency officials Borisov had used his position as the Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Interior Ministry to help organized crime bosses attack their opponents.[118]

On 14 January 2011, journalists from the Bulgarian weekly newspaper Galeria distributed audio records of an alleged conversation between Borisov and Customs Agency Head Vanyo Tanov. The tapes reveal that Borisov instructed customs authorities to immediately stop their investigation of "Ledenika" brewery which had been suspected of illegal activities and tax crimes. However, Finance Minister Simeon Djankov was recorded on tape ordering the Head of Customs to do his work properly and not yield to Borisov's demands.

This created a rift within the government, as it was widely believed that the wiretapping was ordered by Interior Minister Tzvetan Tzvetanov.[119] Later those tapes were declared "manipulated" (not being able to tell if they were fake or not) by two independent examinations.[120][121] In early July, Borisov admitted that the conversation had been genuine, though tampered with, while giving an interview to Bulgarian bloggers in the presence of the Interior Minister.[122][123] A March 2013 investigation by the Prosecutor General suggests that the wire-tapping was ordered by Tzvetan Tzvetanov, Borisov's trusted deputy in the GERB party, with the aim of getting rid of Customs Head Vanyo Tanov.[citation needed]

Corruption has spread under his government, making Bulgaria the European Union's worst-ranked country by the NGO Transparency International. The Prime Minister and his entourage are said to have benefited in particular from a system of misappropriation of European structural funds allocated for the construction of highways. Political scientist Evgenii Dainov says: "[Boïko Borissov] has imposed the feudal structure of a gang of which he is the boss, with his lieutenants around him and local chiefs, some of whom have criminal records. Their goal: to make private profit from public funds." Despite the disclosure of compromising documents, such as audio recordings or photos taken by one of his mistresses showing numerous bundles of 500-euro bills in a drawer, the Bulgarian justice system has never opened an investigation into the matter.[124]

Allegations of threatening journalists

[edit]
Michel Barnier and Boyko Borisov at the 2011 EPP summit at Bouchout Castle, Meise.

In early 2011 a number of think-tanks and analysts raised concern about the degradation of media freedom and transparency in Bulgaria.[125] In 2011 reports surfaced that Borisov had paid cash to journalists to portray him favourably, and threatened others who criticized him as early as 2005.[126] In 2012, Bulgaria was ranked as the worst-performing EU member in terms of media freedom, according to Freedom House, and ranked 80th internationally.[127] By 2018, Bulgaria had dropped to 111th globally in the Press Freedom Index, lower than all European Union members and membership candidate states. According to Reporters Without Borders, EU funds have been diverted to sympathetic media outlets while others have been bribed to be less critical on problematic topics. Attacks against individual journalists have also increased.[128][129]

Allegations of racism and xenophobia

[edit]

On 6 February 2009, Borisov, speaking in Chicago, told Bulgarian expatriates that the human material and the basis of Bulgarian population at that moment included 1 million Roma, 700,000 Turks and 2.5 million retirees. He added that the human material that they are left with as voters and as a pool for recruiting staff is really not that big, as half a million people have left Bulgaria.[130][131][132][133] Vice-president of the Party of European Socialists, Jan Marinus Wiersma, accused Borisov of referring to the Turks, Roma and pensioners in Bulgaria as "bad human material," and claimed that GERB "has already crossed the invisible line between right wing populism and extremism."[134]

Borisov denied these accusations and in turn accused the Bulgarian Socialist Party of attempting to discredit him.[135] Borisov stated in a meeting with NGOs on 5 March 2009 that he intends to include representatives of the Roma ethnicity in all levels of government, including a potential minister,[136] and has reached out to offer inclusivity to Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish population; although these measures and proposals have been seen as politically empty.[16]

Image

[edit]

Boyko Borisov's "man of the people" attitude and the failings of the previous government were seen as the main sources of his popularity in 2009.[137] Borisov had also marked a very wide media presence, being regularly cited in most major media outlets and had made a total of 1,157 statements from his election until the end of 2010.[138] This trend continued throughout his first mandate, as Borisov and his party completely dominate the country's media reports,[139] his name being mentioned in more than 8,000 news articles for 2012.[140] He has also been the subject of a number of sycophantic plaudits on the part of his supporters, including a poem lauding his "dignified leadership".[141] In July 2012, he was included as a "historical personality" in history books for high school students, along with former GERB minister Rosen Plevneliev and European commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.[142] Borisov's popularity has been steadily declining due to ongoing scandals surrounding his most-trusted ministers – Tzvetan Tzvetanov and agriculture minister Miroslav Naydenov. After a public row due to leaked wiretapped conversations between Boyko Borisov, Miroslav Naydenov and the deputy prosecutor general, Boyko Borisov distanced himself from the former agriculture minister and he was excluded from GERB.

According to political scientist Ivan Krastev, "Boyko wants to be everybody’s best friend. He wants to hear all sides, make them believe that he has taken their side. He thinks that he needs to take on all positions at once...He is more pro-American, pro-Russian and pro-European than anyone else."[143]

In December 2011, Borisov, who occasionally plays as a striker for the third division side F.C. Vitosha Bistritsa, collected 44% of about 8,000 votes in a fans' poll to crown Bulgaria's Footballer of the Year, ahead of then-Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov. Following the result, Borisov called for the award to be annulled, claiming it was a protest vote against the poor conditions of Bulgarian football.[144][145]

[edit]
Main article: 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests

In June 2020, photographs emerged that purported to show what appeared to be Prime Minister Borisov laying half-naked on a bed, next to a nightstand featuring a handgun and stacks of euro banknotes. Borisov confirmed that the room in which the photos were taken was his, but denied the gun and money, stating that the images could have been manipulated. Borisov accused President Rumen Radev of flying a consumer drone into his residence to take the pictures. He also accused former Ombudswoman Maya Manolova, TV star Slavi Trifonov and his own former second in command Tsvetan Tsvetanov (who had just left and condemned the ruling party) of involvement in a plot to take photos of him while he was sleeping in a "KGB-Style" kompromat operation. Radev condemned the leaks and called it an "insane" invasion of the prime minister's privacy. He added that he owns a drone, but that the accusation that he personally piloted it into the prime minister's residence to take pictures was part of Borisov's "fantasy and paranoia".[146][147][148][149] A leaked audio recording was also posted on the internet, in which a voice that strongly resembled Borisov's spoke in very brass tones and insulted a member of the National Assembly, as well as various European leaders.[150][151][152] These scandals, along with an intrusion by the Prosecutor General into the Bulgarian presidency triggered the 2020–2021 Bulgarian protests that sought the resignations of Borisov, his government and the Prosecutor General.

In November 2021, a new batch of photos allegedly from Borisov's bedroom were released to the media.[153]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Boyko Borisov at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) – Bulgaria". World Bank. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Dutch minister 'Bloks' Bulgaria's Schengen accession". Euractiv. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Bulgarian elections marred by claims of voting fraud". The Financial Times. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Chaos, Fraud Mar Bulgaria's Local Election and Referendum". OCCRP. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Bulgaria Election Body Ignores Questions About EU Elections". BalkanInsight. 6 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Bulgaria RSF". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Trump and Bulgaria: Attacks on free media damage democracy". The Hill. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Ex-PM Borissov released following arrest". 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Bulgarian ex-PM Borissov arrested after EU Prosecutor's office probe". 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Former Prime Minister becomes Bulgaria's oldest player". Reuters. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Borisov should state the truth about his grandfather". Duma. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Boyko Borisov and his feud with facts". Sega. 24 December 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  14. ^ Lilov 2013, p. 8.
  15. ^ "Бойко Борисов" (in Bulgarian). Darik News. 27 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Boiko Borissov: A general history". The Sofia Echo. 10 July 2009. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  17. ^ a b c d "Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria's Mr. Big". France 24. 26 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  18. ^ "АФЕРА.БГ | Цончо Колев, треньор по карате: Бойко Борисов никога не е притежавал черен колан! Той излъга Обама!". Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Гласове". Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Обясненията за показните убийстctaва". 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  21. ^ "Акциите на МВР – приказка без край". 30 October 2005. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  22. ^ "Джеф Стайн не приема поканата на Бойко Борисов". 10 March 2007. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  23. ^ "Бойко Борисов забравил спомените си за "Топлофикация"". Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  24. ^ "Бойко Борисов: Като искате от мен отговорност, дайте ми права". 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  25. ^ "Много координатори – хилаво почистване". 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  26. ^ "Joca Amsterdam – Most Powerful Balkan Criminal - Current Events - Croatia - Dalje.com". Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2015. (Dead Link)
  27. ^ "Свидетел: Сретен Йосич и Туцо говориха за убийството на Бойко Борисов". Vesti.bg. Дарик Нет АД. Archived from the original on 1 January 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  28. ^ Lilov 2013, p. 15.
  29. ^ "Резултати за страната при обработени 100.00% протоколи на СИК в РИК" (in Bulgarian). ЦИК. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  30. ^ "Bulgaria opposition wins election". BBC. 6 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  31. ^ "Борисов ще е премиер, остана без часовник заради бас" (in Bulgarian). Dnes.bg. 5 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  32. ^ "Борисов обеща бърз кабинет и съкращения на висши чиновници" (in Bulgarian). Дневник. 6 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  33. ^ Europe's Poorest Country Heads for the Polls Archived 20 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Spiegel, 7 March 2009
  34. ^ Lyulin motorway is complete, to be tested by PM Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Sofia Echo, 19 January 2011
  35. ^ Bulgarian Parliament approves 2020 energy strategy Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, 1 June 2011, The Sofia Echo
  36. ^ "Българска национална телевизия – Новини – Икономика – България се отказва от АЕЦ "Белене"". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2015., 28 March 2012, The Bulgarian National TV
  37. ^ България последна в ЕС по усвояване на еврофондове Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Trud, 15 January 2010
  38. ^ Медийно досие: Как върви усвояването на еврофондове за регионално развитие Archived 3 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Dnevnik, 14 June 2010
  39. ^ A welcome onslaught on corruption raises some fears of a police state Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Economist, 27 May 2011
  40. ^ A lighter shade of grey Archived 3 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine, The Economist, 17 March 2012
  41. ^ "Deadlock feared after Bulgaria elections". Al-Jazeera. 13 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  42. ^ "Wiretap scandal rocks Bulgarian government". EURACTIV.com. 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  43. ^ "Bulgaria's Good News in 2012". novinite.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  44. ^ Smoking in Bulgaria? Cut! Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Sofia Echo, 18 March 2011
  45. ^ "Bulgaria's smoking ban led to 3 – 4% cut in cigarette sales, analysts say". The Sofia Globe. 14 April 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  46. ^ "Bulgaria bans shale gas drilling with 'fracking' method". BBC News. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  47. ^ "На разклон за В. Търново премиерът препитал кандидат за министър". Darik News. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  48. ^ "Bulgaria's Health Minister Resigns". BalkanInsight. 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  49. ^ "France's Total granted oil, gas exploration licence in Bulgaria". 3 E News. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  50. ^ "The Energy Commission tasked Minister Radev with negotiating the option for BEH to take a 20% stake in the consortium for the "Khan Asparuh" Block". 3 E News. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  51. ^ "We support CEDB, Boyko Borissov and Bulgaria: EPP Secretary-General". Focus News Agency. 6 April 2013. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  52. ^ "Ex AgriMin Exposes Shocking Mass Spying in Bulgaria". Novinite. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  53. ^ "Bulgaria opts out of growing genetically modified crops". Reuters. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  54. ^ "Putin drops South Stream gas pipeline to EU, courts Turkey". Reuters. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  55. ^ By Jim Yardley and Jo Becker (30 December 2014). "How Putin Forged a Pipeline Deal That Derailed". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014. Mr. Putin, on a state visit to Turkey, announced that South Stream was dead
  56. ^ "Construction of interconnector with Romania marks greatest progress, PM Borisov says". Bulgarian National Radio. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  57. ^ "After riot, Bulgaria to send migrants to closed camps, plans extraditions". Reuters. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  58. ^ "President Hands Over Mandate For Cabinet Forming to Boyko Borisov – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency". Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  59. ^ Krasimirov, Tsvetelia Tsolova and Angel. "Bulgaria's centre-right GERB signs deal on coalition government". Reuters India. Archived from the original on 13 October 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  60. ^ "Why do Western investors leave?". Kapital Daily. 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  61. ^ Holmund, Caroline (27 September 2018). "As Foreign Firms Flee, Bulgaria Must Finally Curb Its Corruption Problem". The Diplomatic Courier. Retrieved 18 November 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  62. ^ "Bulgarian gas hub plans raise eyebrows in Brussels". www.euractiv.com. Euractiv. 27 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  63. ^ "Brussels to levy a steep fine over BEH, Bulgartransgaz". Business.dir.bg. Dir.bg. 5 December 2018. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  64. ^ "Soccer: Four Balkan countries consider 2030 World Cup, Euro 2028 bids". Reuters. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  65. ^ Serbia, RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of. "Dodeljena odlikovanja povodom Dana državnosti Srbije". www.rts.rs. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  66. ^ "Another Three Government Officials With Cheap Apartments from Arteks". Svobodna Evropa. 25 March 2019. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  67. ^ "Bulgaria to Investigate Three More in Luxury Apartments Scandal". The New York Times. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  68. ^ ""Nobody to Sanction Tsvetanov's Property Irregularities Were Known Back in 2015". Svobodna Evropa. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  69. ^ "Bulgaria Launches Probe into Fake Bed-And-Breakfasts Funded By EU". Radio Free Europe. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  70. ^ "EU Health Commissioner 'greatly disappointed' by Bulgaria's handling of African Swine Fever". The Sofia Globe. 25 July 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  71. ^ "Why Czechia succeeded against the African swine fever and we did not". Dir.bg. 28 July 2019. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  72. ^ "Turkey's Syria offensive: Bulgarian PM to urge Brussels to stop criticism of Ankara". 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  73. ^ "Borissov: "Many Times, when Europe Has Resented Erdogan, I Was the Only One to Go There"". Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  74. ^ "Reuters". 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  75. ^ "Reuters". 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  76. ^ "Бойко Борисов с втори пореден отрицателен тест за COVID-19". dariknews.bg. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  77. ^ Atanasova, Nikoleta (5 November 2020). "Български лекар в САЩ: Четири елементарни неща, които България пропусна". dw.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  78. ^ "Христо Иванов за COVID кризата у нас: Огромен провал на Борисов". btvnovinite.bg. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  79. ^ "Бойко Борисов: И без мен ще съмне, но да се обединим в името на България". Dnes (in Bulgarian). 4 April 2021.
  80. ^ "Борисов готов да подкрепи кабинет на Трифонов с 10 дежурни депутати (видео)". Mediapool (in Bulgarian). 7 April 2021.
  81. ^ "Бойко Борисов официално: Няма да съм премиер!". Plovdiv24 (in Bulgarian). 14 April 2021.
  82. ^ "Борисов депозира оставката на ръководения от него Министерски съвет". Bloomberg (in Bulgarian). 15 April 2021.
  83. ^ "Парламентът прие оставката на Борисов в отсъствието му". Mediapool (in Bulgarian). 16 April 2021.
  84. ^ "Ето как минава отпуската на Бойко Борисов". Plovdiv24 (in Bulgarian). 17 April 2021.
  85. ^ "Оперираха по спешност Бойко Борисов". Nova (in Bulgarian). 19 April 2021.
  86. ^ "Борисов на визитация в болницата, разговаря с пациенти и обяви: Хората ми викаха – не ходи да риташ топка, но акъл не расте". Novini (in Bulgarian). 20 April 2021.
  87. ^ "Вместо да говори в парламента, Борисов "чешка" кучето си Борко". Mediapool (in Bulgarian). 21 April 2021.
  88. ^ "Борисов тъжен: Няма да си карам джипката сега". Flagman (in Bulgarian). 21 April 2021.
  89. ^ "Bulgaria: Clash of institutions for Radev and Borissov". Independent Balkan News Agency. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  90. ^ "Bulgaria: PM Borissov and government urged to resign by president". euronews. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  91. ^ "Национална конференция на ГЕРБ: реч на Борисов и рокади в партията". ClubZ (in Bulgarian). 11 May 2021.
  92. ^ "Бойко Борисов: Как няма пари, а продължават всичките ни мерки". Novini (in Bulgarian). 28 May 2021.
  93. ^ ""Чудят се как да сменят специалисти. Така коментира бившият премиер Бойко Борисов промените на заемащите главни постове в редица институции". Dnes.dir (in Bulgarian). 26 May 2021.
  94. ^ "Пореден сблъсък между Рашков и Борисов (ВИДЕО)". Nova (in Bulgarian). 30 May 2021.
  95. ^ "Напрежение и размяна на обвинения между Рашков и Борисов (ОБЗОР)". Nova (in Bulgarian). 29 May 2021.
  96. ^ ""Експремиерът Бойко Борисов се явява на разпит днес". Dnes (in Bulgarian). 15 July 2021.
  97. ^ "Бойко Борисов нападна задочно Бойко Рашков: Ще плашиш хората и ще ги арестуваш?". BTV (in Bulgarian). 24 July 2021.
  98. ^ "Бойко Борисов отново разкритикува партиите на протеста". Nova (in Bulgarian). 21 August 2021.
  99. ^ "Борисов: Като гледам как разликата между нас и другите партии се увеличава, много се плаша". ClubZ (in Bulgarian). 21 September 2021.
  100. ^ "ББойко Борисов: Защо ЦИК се подгрива с нас, хванахме ги по боксерки". Novini (in Bulgarian). 7 November 2021.
  101. ^ "Бойко Борисов няма да става депутат". Nova (in Bulgarian). 18 November 2021.
  102. ^ "Борисов разнищи "Бюджет 2022": Дългове, раздаване на калпак и докато издържим". BulgaraOnAir (in Bulgarian). 22 January 2022.
  103. ^ "Бойко Борисов: Управлението е нестабилно". Nova (in Bulgarian). 26 February 2022.
  104. ^ ""Никога не съм притежавал кюлчета". Борисов отново беше разпитан в МВР". SvobodnaEvropa (in Bulgarian). 6 January 2022.
  105. ^ "Бойко Рашков е получил данни за "Барселонагейт" и Бойко Борисов". Novini (in Bulgarian). 2 February 2022.
  106. ^ "Задържаха Бойко Борисов (ВИДЕО+СНИМКИ)". Nova (in Bulgarian). 17 March 2022.
  107. ^ "Защо арестуваха Борисов: фактите и подозренията". DeutscheWelle (in Bulgarian). 18 March 2022.
  108. ^ "Политически реакции след задържането на Бойко Борисов". Nova (in Bulgarian). 17 March 2022.
  109. ^ "Арестът на Борисов е заради изнудване, ГЕРБ свика протест". DeutscheWelle (in Bulgarian). 18 March 2022.
  110. ^ "Вебер в ЕП: Принципите на правовата държава бяха нарушени в България (ВИДЕО)". Tribune (in Bulgarian). 23 March 2022.
  111. ^ "Борисов излезе от ареста". DeutscheWelle (in Bulgarian). 18 March 2022.
  112. ^ "Борисов разкри защо е арестуван и обяви: Рашков е като Путин, а аз като Навални". Novini (in Bulgarian). 24 March 2022.
  113. ^ "Спецпрокуратурата започна проверка заради ареста на Борисов, Горанов и Арнаудова". Novini (in Bulgarian). 24 March 2022.
  114. ^ "Съдът окончателно: Задържането на Бойко Борисов е незаконно". Novini (in Bulgarian). 24 August 2022.
  115. ^ Mayr, Walter (3 July 2009). "Campaigning Against Bulgarian Corruption: Europe's Poorest Country Heads for the Polls". Der Spiegel. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  116. ^ Greenberg, Andy (October 2012). "What Happened After U.S. Cables Revealing Massive Bulgarian Corruption Were Leaked in Bulgaria". Slate. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  117. ^ "News.bg – US Report: Borisov is a Mobster". International.ibox.bg. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  118. ^ "Bulgaria: Bush's Bulgarian Partner in the Terror War Has Mob History, Investigators Say – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  119. ^ "Transcript from 2nd Taped Call between Bulgarian PM, Customs Head: Transcript from 2nd Taped Call between Bulgarian PM, Customs Head – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  120. ^ "Експертиза: Записите с Ваньо Танов не са оригинали – Днес.dir.bg". Dnes.dir.bg. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  121. ^ "Втората експертиза потвърди, че разговорите на Танов са манипулирани – bTV Новините". Btv.bg. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  122. ^ EurActiv.com (13 July 2012). "Romania, Bulgaria set to fail their biggest test". EurActiv. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  123. ^ Joi Ito, Japan (11 July 2012). "Bulgaria: PM Boyko Invites Creators of "Boykometer" for a Chat · Global Voices". Globalvoices.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  124. ^ "Boïko Borissov, le parrain de la Bulgarie". L'Express. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  125. ^ Press play Archived 31 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Sofia Echo, 29 April 2011
  126. ^ Wikileaks: US Ambassador Beyrle: Boyko Borisov – We Must Never Forget Who We Are Dealing With Archived 28 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, novinite.com, 26 May 2011. Journalists tell us privately that Borissov pays cash for positive coverage and threatens those who report negatively on him.
  127. ^ Bulgaria Worst in EU Media Freedom Archived 4 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Novinite.com, 3 May 2011
  128. ^ "Bulgaria". Reporters Without Borders. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  129. ^ Greenslade, Roy (23 September 2014). "Why Bulgaria is the EU's lowest ranked country on press freedom index". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  130. ^ Изказване на Бойко Борисов в Чикаго – емигрантска версия Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Chicago press conference transcription in Bulgarian
  131. ^ Chicago audio record Archived 6 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine (Dead Link)
  132. ^ Mayor of Sofia brands Roma, Turks and retirees 'bad human material' Archived 25 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph.co.uk, 6 February 2009
  133. ^ Sofia Mayor to Bulgarian Expats: We Are Left with Bad Human Material Back Home Archived 31 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine Sofia Mayor to Bulgarian Expats: We Are Left with Bad Human Material Back Home
  134. ^ "Challenge to EPP over leader's statement on bad human material". Socialistgroup.eu. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
  135. ^ "Бойко Борисов: Никога не съм казвал, че пенсионерите са лош човешки материал" (in Bulgarian). Български фактор. 7 June 2009.
  136. ^ "GERB Leader Announces Possible Roma Minister Appointment in Future Cabinet: Sofia Mayor Party Mulls Roma Minister in Future Cabinet – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency". Novinite.com. 5 March 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  137. ^ Anti-corruption prime minister surfs the wave of popularity Archived 27 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The Telegraph, 18 September 2009
  138. ^ Властта иска да опитоми медиите Archived 18 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Trud, 30 April 2011
  139. ^ Bulgaria's Ruling GERB Dominates Media in Elections Eve Archived 6 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Novinite, 18 October 2011
  140. ^ Bulgarian Media Mentioned PM over 8000 Times in 2012 Archived 20 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Novinite, 17 January 2013
  141. ^ A new prime minister enchants Bulgarians with his forceful ways Archived 17 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Economist, 7 January 2010
  142. ^ "Bulgarian PM Enters High School History Books". Novinite. 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  143. ^ "Bulgaria's pro-Brussels PM: 'There's no better place to live than the EU'". The Guardian. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  144. ^ Bulgarian PM wins player of year but wants award annulled Archived 9 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine BBC Sport 5 December 2011.
  145. ^ Bulgarian prime minister beats Dimitar Berbatov in country's best footballer poll Archived 8 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine The Daily Telegraph 5 December 2011. Retrieved on 6 December 2011.
  146. ^ "A Gun on a Nightstand and Wads of Cash Escalate Bulgarian Feud". Bloomberg.com. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  147. ^ Gotev, Georgi; Nikolov, Krassen (18 June 2020). "Borissov fends off 'kompromats', says will sleep with a gun". www.euractiv.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  148. ^ Dzhambazova, Boryana; Kingsley, Patrick (19 July 2020). "Showdown on Beach in Bulgaria Balloons into Political Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  149. ^ "Bedroom Photos Leave Bulgarian Prime Minister Red-faced". Balkan Insight. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  150. ^ 24новини. "В циничен запис Борисов скандално обижда Цвета Караянчева (аудио)". 24novini.bg (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  151. ^ "Изтече нов запис с гласа на Борисов: Сладур такъв… ще ме притискаш… (АУДИО)". Fakti.bg – Да извадим фактите наяве. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  152. ^ "Слави Трифонов: Този запис е отвратителен, Гешев да го провери". Fakti.bg – Да извадим фактите наяве. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  153. ^ "Излезе нова порция снимки от спалнята на Борисов". Offnews. 11 November 2021.
  1. ^ pronounced IPA: [ˈbɔjko mɛˈtɔdiɛf boˈrisof]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boyko Borisov.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Boyko Borisov.
Party political offices
Position established Leader of GERB
2006–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Sofia
2005–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Bulgaria
2009–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Bulgaria
2014–2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Bulgaria
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Presidency of the Council of the European Union
1 January 2018–1 July 2018 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boyko_Borisov&oldid=1265517497"