The victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election has the potential to change Bulgaria’s political course towards a soft dictatorship and closer ties to Russia, with most of the main politicians showing satisfaction with the preliminary results from the US.

Over the past months, many analysts have suggested that Boyko Borissov, the leader of Bulgaria’s Gerb party, the largest in the new parliament, would shape his politics depending on the outcome of the US presidential race. A victory for Trump was seen as possibility for Borissov to take an approach similar to that of Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, and form a ruling coalition with more conservative, nationalistic and pro-Russian parties, while remaining officially pro-Western. 

“Congratulations to Donald Trump. I am ready to work together again! For security,” Borissov wrote in a Facebook post, publishing a photo of himself and Trump in the White House.

Several months earlier, Borissov gave clear indications he intended to change his politics from ostensibly Euro-Atlantic to conservative. His party, for example, has backed changes to an education law banning LGBT propaganda in schools. At the time, Borissov commented he would rather be conservative than forced by Euro-Atlantic values to change his gender.

Delyan Peevski, the Magnitsky-sanctioned leader of DPS – New Beginning, also praised Trump’s victory, saying it was “good news for democracy in the US and the world”.

It is believed that Peevski and Borissov would rule together, attracting a third, probably nationalist, partner, and would try to bring the country back to the Russian orbit, while using repressive measures against their opponents.

Pro-Russian President Rumen Radev congratulated Trump on his victory, saying he was confident that the effective dialogue between the two peers will continue.

The leader of far-right pro-Russian Vazrazhdane, Kostadin Kostadinov, also welcomed Trump’s victory, while the party’s MEP Petar Volgin commented this was a “victory of freedom”, which would give Bulgaria the chance to get back its independence. Vazrazhdane maintains openly pro-Russian positions.

Other factors 

Although many believe that Trump’s return in the White House will shape Bulgaria’s political landscape, others say the EU is a much stronger factor.

“The election in the US is important for Europe as a whole but there are other factors for the formation of a government in our country,” Milen Lyubenov, professor of political sciences, said in an interview with public broadcaster BNR.

“I do not think that the results of the US elections and Trump's victory, which will soon be confirmed, will lead to any reorientation and rethinking of the positions of the Bulgarian political parties. The two are irrelevant to each other. The elections in the United States are important for Europe as a whole, but there are other factors for the formation of a government in our country. If someone thinks that Vazrazhdane will become a more acceptable partner for Gerb, I exclude that because we shall see a strong reaction of the EP [European Parliament] against Vazrazhdane as an anti-European party,” he added.