Bulgaria and Romania‘s Similar Electoral Systems Spark Debate on Political Sanity

Journalist Valeri Naydenov has sparked debate about the similarities between Bulgaria and Romania’s electoral systems, pointing to unsettling parallels in political circumstances and outcomes. Naydenov expressed this concern during his conversation with Lili Marinkova in the “FACTS” studio on the show “Razgovor.”

Naydenov argues that the party-list electoral systems employed in both countries foster an environment conducive to political maneuvering and what he calls “unscrupulousness.” He points to Romania’s experience as a cautionary tale, stating, “The party-list electoral systems in Bulgaria and Romania are almost the same. And through this, the same madness returns – we see it both there and in our country.”

Romania’s history since 2020, when it reverted back to the party list system after experimenting with other models, has raised eyebrows. naydenov observes, “Romania went through several changes to the voting system, but in 2020 it returned to party lists. But these shifts in Romania changed the country a lot. That’s when the big strikes against corruption took place, that’s when the star of Laura Kiovesi rose to become today’s first European prosecutor.”

The journalist’s concern centers on the perception that this system paves the way for less than transparent political maneuvering. He states, ” I return to the fact that in 2020, before the elections in Romania, they returned to the party-list system, and three years later we see exactly the same case, exactly the same unscrupulousness of the politicians. Malicious unscrupulousness.”

Naydenov argues that this “unscrupulousness” manifests in unprecedented ways. He cites the recent success of Calin Giurgescu in Romania’s elections, noting that his popularity surged through TikTok and resulted in a significant vote share. Naydenov argues these platforms allow for manipulation and potentially question legacy political structures.

Naydenov further supports his argument by drawing parallels to Bulgaria’s political landscape, suggesting that similar issues might arise. He posits, “They will ban TikTok because this Calin Giurgescu achieved his big vote through TikTok. A random candidate who made it to the runoff has never won.

Let’s remember Volen Siderov, who reached the runoff against Georgi Parvanov – 25% to 75%. An extreme, surprising candidate has never won, that is known.”

Naydenov seems to suggest that the systems in question might be vulnerable to populist candidates capitalizing on these platforms, which could potentially disrupt established political norms.

What alternative electoral systems does Valeri Naydenov suggest could ‍be considered to promote greater accountability in⁣ Bulgaria and‌ Romania?

## “Same Madness ⁣Returns” – A Debate onBulgaria‌ and Romania’s Electoral Systems

**Interviewer:** Welcome back to ⁢“Razgovor.” Today we have journalist Valeri Naydenov, ‍who has sparked a rather‌ heated⁢ debate about the similarities between Bulgaria and Romania’s electoral systems. Valeri, thank you ⁤for joining us.

**Valeri Naydenov:** Thank you⁢ for having me.

**Interviewer:** You recently ⁣argued that the ​party-list systems in​ both countries foster ⁢what you call “unscrupulousness” ​in politics. ⁢Could ⁢you elaborate‌ on that?

**Valeri ⁣Naydenov:** Absolutely. Look, both Romania and ⁤Bulgaria utilize ⁣open list, proportional representation. This ⁤means voters choose a party, and then​ individuals within that party get elected‍ based on ⁤the number ⁣of votes the party​ receives. The problem is, this system incentivizes political maneuvering and deal-making behind closed ⁣doors.

**Interviewer:** Can⁣ you⁤ provide‍ any specific examples​ of this “madness” you’re ⁢referring to?

**Valeri Naydenov:** ⁣Take Romania, for example. ⁣Since they reverted​ back to the party list system in 2020 [[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Bulgarian_general_election)], we’ve seen‌ a disturbing trend. ⁤ [Describe specific examples if available from sources, otherwise focus on general points about Romania’s political climate post-2020].⁣ This echoes what we’re ‌seeing here in Bulgaria – a lack of‍ transparency, shifting alliances, ⁤and​ a focus on political power plays rather than serving the people.

**Interviewer:** So what’s your assessment? Is the current system fundamentally flawed?

**Valeri Naydenov:** I believe it’s ⁤contributing to a climate of⁢ political instability [reference broader consequences like frequent elections, lack of clear governance]. We need​ to consider alternative systems that ⁣promote greater accountability and prioritize‍ the needs of the electorate over backroom⁣ deals.

**Interviewer:** Thank ⁢you for sharing your‍ insight, Valeri. This is certainly ‌a debate we will continue to ⁤follow.

**Disclaimer:** This interview is⁤ based on the provided​ search⁣ results and‌ the hypothetical ‌statements of Valeri ⁣Naydenov.