EUPopLink Country Report-Bulgaria.

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• European Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Contemporary Bulgarian politics features a complex interplay between populism and Euroscepticism.
• The last decade has seen the rise of various political actors exhibiting both populist and Eurosceptic characteristics.
• Bulgaria faces a deep party system crisis, characterized by corruption and economic challenges, despite a generally pro-European populace.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the connections and intersections between populism and Euroscepticism in contemporary Bulgarian politics.
• To outline the ideological characteristics of populist and Eurosceptic political actors in Bulgaria.
• To explore the diverse positions on the European Union and the nexus of populism and Euroscepticism.

Main Methods:

• Ideological analysis of political parties and actors.
• Examination of political actors' stances on the European Union.
• Analysis of mainstream parties' strategies in response to Euroscepticism.

Main Results:

• Populist radical right (PRR) parties like Ataka, Vazrazhdane, and Velichie advocate for Bulgaria's exit from the EU.
• Other parties exhibit varying degrees of Euroscepticism, from criticizing EU policies to questioning Eurozone entry.
• Mainstream pro-European parties utilize adversarial, accommodating, cordon sanitaire, and incorporation strategies against PRR parties.

Conclusions:

• Despite a pro-European public, Bulgaria's political landscape is marked by a crisis, with potential for increased support for hard Eurosceptics.
• The strategies employed by mainstream parties aim to manage the influence of Eurosceptic movements.
• Economic downturns could significantly impact the support for Eurosceptic parties in Bulgaria.