Bulgaria 2013

[politicus]

What are the reasons Bulgarian voters are voting on such horrible parties? I get that voters are cynical and apathetic by now, but its still surprising that such high numbers support parties that are so objectively awful.

So what factors are at work here. Clientilistic networks where they hope to gain if "their" patron gets in? Media monopolies distorting reality?

[politicus]

While no one can really hope to get anything from their vote (except those selling theirs, of course), in some cases local oligarchs, who have practically taken over government in certain areas, have pressured their employees into voting for them (or for parties they support). While this euphemistically called "company vote" doesn't appear in polls, it nearly managed to get a political party in parliament last time around and according to some estimates could reach up to 200,000 votes this time.

Which party was that, out of curiosity?

Lider, the personal party of Hristo Kovachki, owner of various energy-related businesses. The core voters of his party were the workers in his plants or mines, by all accounts under threats. He won a municipality, where he controlled a large coal mine, the main employer there.

How did he pull that of? (assuming secret ballots) Was the workers told they would be fired if he didnt get a certain percentage?

[politicus]

Wierd. I expected Turks to be near the Turkish border, not in the northeast near Romania.

Its Southern Dobruja, a border area that was repeatedly settled by various migrating or deposed groups (Tatars 1512-14, Gagausians etc.), especially during the Ottoman era. The first Turks came in 1280 and the Ottomans needed a loyal population to secure the area. Most of the Bulgarian population came as settlers in the 19th century.

[politicus]

Its correct that the area in NE Bulgaria with a high Turkish population is larger than Southern Dobruja proper, but the history is the same.

I don't want to derail an election thread with a history discussion, but when it comes to the history of Balkan countries there is always a local, nationalist version and a more neutral, unbiased one reflecting the views of outside historians, and your view clearly reflects the Bulgarian nationalist tradition.