Ana Mihova


If the parliamentary elections were held today, GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) would not receive a majority vote, indicated a survey of BBSS Gallup International, conducted in the period March 10 - 17 among 1,005 people and submitted yesterday. According to the study, the recent government would be backed by 24.4% of the voters, thus marking a decrease of 3% compared to February this year and 15.5% versus March last year. However, the expected support for the socialists marked a small increase of 17.8%, compared to 15.7 % in February and 13.2 % in March 2010. "GERB still has resources as a political force, mainly due to the relatively high ratings of quite many of its representatives. The problem is that this human resource fails to deliver adequate messages via words and, even less, via actions. Hence, the public feels that GERB has failed to serve the credibility granted to it by the people at the last elections," reckoned Zhivko Georgiev.

The most largely approved politician, supported by 60% of the respondents, continues to be EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva. In the words of Parvan Simeonov, however, at the moment her rating and that of Meglena Kuneva, the former EU commissioner, are of no real value.

Georgieva is followed in the ranking by President Georgi Parvanov and Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who both receive 39% confidence. Meglena Kuneva and Rossen Plevneliev are ranked fourth with a 38% approval. The rating of Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov continues to fall, concluded BBSS Gallup International. In March, he received 24% confidence, while in February he was supported by 29% of the population.

The negative attitude of the respondents towards the performance of GERB's government marked a turning point in the survey. For the first time, the fight against corruption and the general governance of the country are assessed negatively. "Actually, these were the most important competitive advantages of GERB on the political scene," reminded Zhivko Georgiev. 75% of the people are not satisfied with the surge in prices and 71% of the respondents are dissatisfied with their poor financial condition. Some 66% of the polled expressed discontent with the high growth of unemployment and 59% of the Bulgarian citizens - with the state of healthcare. Two-thirds, or 65%, of the surveyed state that generally the situation in Bulgaria has been deteriorating, whereas only 18% still believe it will improve.