Yeah Stefcho,
he may just be the man for the time.

Sometimes that's the only way to do business in BG. I turn to a bully on a dime if I have to deal with idiots - you have no idea. But I enjoy it. It's strange - one day I can read Plutarch, the next I go on a rampage dispensing justice.
I am as conflicted as anyone in BG and perhaps this is why Boyko doesn't bother me too much. Yeah he is a pig, but....
Vida loca;) [...]

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It must be a cultural bit because this guy is a bully. To threaten to actually say, 'let them say this to my face and I'll show them" is very unprofessional for a Prime Minister to speak like a street thug, but that is what he is no matter how you dress him up.
Does he want to fight everyone that don't agree with him, there would be a line to do this to him.
My high hopes for Bulgaria will have to wait until another goverment is in place, I'm not sure of your system [...]

Read the full comment but perhaps a no confidence vote? But he has a majority of the Parliment on his side so that won't happen unless he really get's stupid. I don't know what to say or even think and since I'm heading back to the states, I'm not going to be caring much anymore anyway so goodluck to the wonderful people of Bulgaria and next time think before you vote. It's always a pleasure Valeri, I'll stay in touch

AEinBG

You are right - it will be hard for Roma who want to integrate, especially if they are deep in their own culture. That's true in every society - gipsies in BG, blacks in the US.
Some blacks, like Obama or Clarence Thomas are super eloquent. Others - I have no idea what they are saying - as if it isn't English - how do you expect them to succeed or integrate .. I worked in Silicon Valley and across the Bay there is Oakland - may as well be Mogadishu... and that's [...]

Read the full comment not in a country that was a dictatorship until 20 years a go - it's in the world's biggest economy, a country made of immigrants, if you please!

As far as politicians - can you possibly imagine Boyko getting on TV, apologizing for sex? As a Bulgarian I find that pretty pathetic, (Stefcho) - not because of the sex, but because of the apology, and it's bigger than simply politicians - complete and total proverbial castration of American men in general. What man feels badly about his own desirability? To whom can you possibly owe an explanation, outside of your family? Beyond me.

Call him a bodyguard, but at least Boyko isn't in fear of what he thinks - that's appealing to me. May be a cultural bit.

Valeri,

You are so right....

It does make you wonder though, why these politicians keep cheating (the thrill factor as you say). They must know they stand an excellent chance of being found out and then have to give some embarrassing public apology. It is hilarious too...usually the ones pointing their fingers the most are generally exposed sooner or later as having done the exact same thing. Plus, for whatever reason (I personally attribute it to our crazy Puritanical forefathers) we have this insane curiosity and double standard regarding what's going on [...]

Read the full comment in a politicians' pants (petty distractions).

Poor Bill....I did feel sorry for him though, this was his wife's problem, not ours. I can only imagine how much we were laughed at over that one.

Stefcho,
I am going to continue this conversation under the "Documents Clear Zheleva" tread, so that we don't get deleted as "irrelevant" here...

Stefcho,
I am going to continue this conversation under the "Documents Clear Zheleva" tread, so that we don't get deleted as "irrelevant" here...

Comparing politics in the states to politics in BG is like comparing apples and oranges. Yes we have our embarressing moments and they are all pointed out very well by our good friend Valeri. But to compare a sexual encounter to the bodyguard," Prime Minister's' choice for any goverment is not a fair comparision at all, then the people in BG wonder why they are not taken seriously. Well here's a perfect example. I love the invite to the Black Sea to the members of the EU parliment, as if they really give a (#@*@. Boyko screwed up, he's a [...]

Read the full comment bully with a teenage mentally. " Let them say that to my face" come on! The people's perseptions in BG are so different from the actual fact's that it's amazing this country continue's to function on a daily basis. Even Romania has surpassed BG in meeting it's obligations to the EU, Romania.
To be honest I felt embarressed for Zlelava or however you spell it, she was like a fish out of water, I'm very sure that there are many, many more qualified people in BG to fill this and many other positions in BG but if your not a member of the kiss Boyko's club, you won't be considered. Bulgaria will remain in this current state of dread until the right person comes along and say's enough already, this is what we have to do and it's going to hurt for a while but in the long run it will be better for Bulgaria. Bulgaria still fails to meet it actual potential, it is there somewhere, perhaps it will take another generation to discover but it will come and the people need to be more interested in the facts rather then what they read in the yellow papers, a good scandal in fun to read maybe once a week but take it for what it's worth, don't believe everything you read just for entertainment value.
What a puppet show.
Those to continue to compare the problems of BG to the problems of the states are also just in denial, there is no comparision, yes of course we have our problems but they don't pale in comparision to that of BG, not even a little bit. So send your hate mail back and 'try' to justify that Bulgaria is on the right track to become a productive EU country and it's goverment is professional and cares about the average Bulgarian. Tell me this and I have a bridge in New York to sell you, they are in the goverment to serve themselves only and the people know it yet continue to send these people back, yes I've heard the stories, well, it's the lessor of two evils. Well I don't buy it, it's the better funded by organized crime canidate that ends up in the goverment. This is Bulgaria, that is the way it is, for one example, the health minister goes to the states on a fact finding mission and then has to sit and explain to the media for 2 hrs on the purpose of his visit, well as it turned out this company does business in Bulgaria and for him to go and see for himself that this business is on the up and up and meet with his American counter part is what he should be doing, this is his job but in Bulgaria they find a way to make this some sort of scandal.
Sometimes I feel as if I'm dreaming

AE in BG

"Watching this fiasco with Ms. Zheleva is making me homesick for a good old fashioned Senate hearing (which can have a certain circus-y air to it). :"

They can be very sexual in nature, as I remember a hearing on the US President's technical pattern of ejaculation, on a certain dress... that was... er "interesting";) I don't know - every 5 minutes it seems, there is a US Senator or a Governor out on TV apologizing for sex. "I have let everyone down..." I mean, you have to wonder [...]

Read the full comment - does the "apology moment" cross their minds, as they copulate? I mean that would be a moment killer - worse than thinking about dead kittens, or your uncle Joe's rheumatism...

Or may be that's part of the excitement for American politicians.. "I will pay for this! I am a baaad boy! This is gonna hurt!" Who knows, the brain is the most important sexual organ...

Since arriving here, both my husband and I have been fascinated with politics in BG....never a dull moment that's for sure! Watching this fiasco with Ms. Zheleva is making me homesick for a good old fashioned Senate hearing (which can have a certain circus-y air to it). :) I think if she was really guilty of any wrongdoing, she would have been exposed a long time ago. As far as the answers to some of the more 'position related' questions, it did sound like she was a bit uninformed in some areas....

On the Roma, much [...]

Read the full comment tougher subject. How do you integrate people who have little interest in integrating? However, I also wonder that if any Roma actually did want to integrate, how easy would it be for them?

To the pom who made the remark earlier, we are not the 'colonies' anymore. Happily for us, we kicked out guys out a long time ago! And, even though I know people use nicknames on this site, you should be aware that many of us have names that are not (stereo)typically 'American'.

LOL, wow this guy "Stefcho the American" seems upset,not to mention his poor spelling. "lemme" what is that? Yeah, I am an American, I use an allias just as I'm sure most do on this site, get over it, if you have something of substance to say, then say it, otherwise shut your pie hole. Now I'm done with you.
Valerie, I couldn't agree more with your assessment of W. his speaking skills were something out of the old west, we have had many laughs at his expense. You should youtube the one where he is just saying [...]

Read the full comment 'well, uh, uh, is was obviously drunk as you will see but it was funny.
As for Jelkova, I'm sorry but this woman has no business in any position in any goverment, she is obviously incompentent and now I think even the former fireman, bodyguard, 'Prime Minister" will have to come to terms with this fact. He humiliated BG by even putting her out there. Perhap's he will offer to fight with any of the EU members that said something bad about her, this is his style. I think one of them even pointed this out in a press conference.
Thank's for coming to my rescue with this guy but I can fight my own battles and it's people like this that are so easy to upset that make it almost enjoyable to post on this site as you do the best out of any of us. This is a compliment to you, you know how to put people in there place with fact's and words, not hateful attacks. Take care

Lol,
no Stefcho is an American working in BG with some serious venting issues, but a good guy altogether.

His nick is Stefcho not his name.

your name is "Stefcho" and you are a yank?

and you refer to yourself in the third person?

and you come on here spouting pompous bollocks?

lemme guess, you are oroginally from Pernok, you got a green card, went to the colonies and now you think you've got God by the sausage?

git

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BTW greetings from Vancouver! It feels like Honk Kong. Everyone is Chinese. Not that I mind - I go to China too and enjoy it.

".. this American is enjoying the recent events in the European Parliment with this woman with what seems to have no experience at anything getting vetted and looking totally imcompentent."

I am sure you are Stefcho. After all, for 8 years you had to endure those same qualities in an American president, the one and only W;) Only we are not talking about a few u-tube dancing bimbo laughs, with a person most of the world will never find out about, but someone that claimed to be the Leader of the Free World;) I dare say [...]

Read the full comment his English was almost as bad as hers... Enjoy your laughs;) After all, we, in the rest of the world, do owe the US for the 8 years of solid entertainment;)

Greetings to you too, my friend!

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The Roma are human beings, and 100% Bulgarians. Why are they hated so much? Bulgarians need to go to Church and learn to live like Civilized Humans, not like wild beasts who abuse the poor Roma.

The Roma are people you cant help,many times many countries have tried to help to settle them in decent housing and help them find work. But they still end up being thieves they do not pay there rent and then lose there home, they then set up a shanty town and the goverment orders it to be demolished and it goes round and round. You cannot intergrate the Roma so why would the decent honest working people have to keep them, aid agency is not the answer and yes they do want to be left alone so that they can [...]

Read the full comment steal and beg without putting back anything into society. Get rid of the lot of them.

Tt's a sad situation, and I don't accept kids playing by railroads, but it's clear the EU has no clue how to help the Roma. Not just Bulgaria, but the entire EU. God help Bulgaria and the EU. Get rid of your prejudices and stupidity. There has to be a program to intergrate the Roma into society, with actual money used. I was at a meeting with Roma college graduates where the deputy prime minister called them all thieves and liars. So now Roma college graduates are liars and thieves? Even Roma people who try to do the right thing [...]

Read the full comment don't get any credit from Bulgarians because they are all seen as the same. What a shame.

Greeting Valeri, this American is enjoying the recent events in the European Parliment with this woman with what seems to have no experience at anything getting vetted and looking totally imcompentent. I think it's time Boyko realizes that he can't just put who he wants in any position he want's, this is what makes BG look ridulous, I'm sorry but it seems so obvious to me.
I'm also interested in the thing in Bourgas, I know these people have no where else to go but what is the solution to this problem not only in Bourgas but even [...]

Read the full comment here in Sofia, it really seems to be a problem. With the stealing of eletricity to the crime, nobody seems to what to do anything, why don't these aid agencies come here and help these people out? My girlfriend say's that they don't want help, they just want to be left alone, well this just don't seem like an option.
I hope you are well and if I haven't had the chance to wish you a Happy New Year, then Happy New Year and all the best.

These people are straight from Mumbai... how little have they progressed in a 1000 years in Europe.. children, children children... God help us...