Yearbook 2019
 Bulgaria. Only 33% of eligible voters took part in the
European Parliament elections on 26 May. The Gerb government
party gained just over 31%, which is only slightly worse
than in the 2017 parliamentary elections. In second place
came the largest opposition party, the Socialist Party, with
just over 24%.
The fact that Gerb made a relatively good choice is
surprising, since at the beginning of the year they were
shaken by a corruption scandal. At the end of March, Gerb's
group leader in parliament, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, resigned,
along with several other party members. Tsvetanov was
accused of buying a luxury apartment at a price well below
market value. Justice Minister Tsetska Tsatjeva and two
deputy ministers were also forced to resign. The scandal did
not lessen by the fact that the head of the anti-corruption
unit Plamen Georgiev was also forced to take time out
because he too had bought a luxury apartment at an
underpriced price.
In October, Krasimir Balakov, the national team captain
for the Bulgarian national football team, was forced to
resign after a racist scandal occurred in connection with an
European qualifying match. When Bulgaria met England at
home, Bulgarian supporters shouted racist remarks and made
Nazi greetings. According to
CountryAAH, Balakov defended himself with the fact that
racism is worse in England. The match ended 0–6 to England.
The European Football Association (UEFA) sentenced
Bulgaria's national team to play the next home game in the
European Championship without a public and a fine of SEK
860,000.
At the end of July, Guinness's record book stated that
48-year-old Bulgarian Smilyana Zaharieva has the strongest
vocal voice in the world with a sound level of 113.8
decibels.
|
