"The true Bulgarians, the educated working Bulgarians are different.", yes, much like the true Scotsmen. Seriously though, does anyone know of a more objective analysis of what is happening in Bulgaria?
No. Many countries there are doing quite OK or even good (Poland, for instance). The stuff going down in Hungary threatens the entire European Project.
Cyprus has a population of about 1 Million, the EU bailout is about $13 Billion (with likely much more to come, just yesterday president Nikos Anastasiades asked for a topup), that's about > $10K per person. According to the ECB study's of median net wealth, Cyprus stood at €267000 per household, compared to just €51000 for Germany. See Table 4.1 on Page 76 of [1].
> You’ve always complained about us, Bulgarians, [...]
Well, if Bulgaria hadn't attacked Greece and Serbia after fighting with them against the Ottomans in 1913, maybe we would have avoided the First World War. But by that logic, there is so many to blame for that war.
(I think I am allowed to be hyperbole when he talks about 'true Bulgarians'.)
"Europe today is a powder keg and the leaders are like men smoking in an arsenal…A single spark will set off an explosion that will consume us all…I cannot tell you when that explosion will occur, but I can tell you where…Some damned foolish thing in the Balkans will set it off."
~ Otto von Bismarck
Sadly I don't know much about the current situation in Bulgaria. But it is one of the most beautiful and charming countries I've visited. Corruption is rampant. We paid off a police officer (for speeding) and a local official (faster paperwork) in the week were there. It's crazy cheap to stay there.
