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With Russia seeking to weaken NATO, Bulgaria has become an important counterweight to Russia’s strategic goals. And Bulgaria has much to commend it, but after a quarter century of total independence, Bulgarians have become tired of promises voiced with predictable hollowness by politicians of every persuasion.

Initially, the collapse of the Communist regime brought massive political and economic changes to Bulgaria. The establishment of multi-party democracy resurrected the political atmosphere of the pre-Communist era and the creation of large-scale private ownership brought forth businesses that did not exist under Communist rule. Large private industries, banks, independent media, mobile phone networks, tourism, with hotels and restaurants, etc. have facilitated consumers’ demands never seen before in Bulgaria’s long history. The state has ceased dominating people’s lives. Social media, the internet, and travel have been basically unconstrained. Indeed, the past twenty-five years have been the freest in recent Bulgarian history.

However, Bulgarians have increasingly been alienated from politics, because for the first two decades the old Communists, renamed Socialists, and the inexperienced fledgling Democrats alternated in power, without significant improvements in the standard of living of most Bulgarians. As a result of the worldwide financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, a new generation of Westernized Bulgarians have come of age politically. In 2009, a new party, named Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria, under the leadership of Boyko Borisov assumed power in Sofia. Now, into his third term, he leads a coalition government that faces numerous challenges.

For starters, the coalition government would like to serve out the full four years of its mandate. This would be a historic accomplishment, because before this year, no government has survived for the duration of its electoral term. Having learned from past mistakes and under the leadership of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the coalition partners published a program entitled “Priorities for Governance 2017-2021” that entails a detailed concept of the new government. The 128-page document’s main focus is on the economy and the social sphere. Out of the twenty one chapters eight are devoted to stable and sustainable economic growth, financial stability, zero budget deficit, and improving the standard of living of every Bulgarian. Moreover, the program aims to reduce red tape on businesses, in particular small and medium sized ones, attract foreign investments, and develop existing capital markets.