Bulgaria’s Ex-Premier Nears Return to Power in a Key Election for Europe<br />"The Socialists failed to convince people that they could be an agent of change." The election was held at a particularly challenging time for Bulgaria, a nation of 7.2 million<br />that has been a European Union member for 10 years and a NATO member for 13 years but still maintains close cultural ties with Russia in a balancing act of East and West.<br />By BORYANA DZHAMBAZOVAMARCH 26, 2017<br />SOFIA, Bulgaria — The former prime minister of Bulgaria verged on retaking power Sunday as his center-right party held a narrow lead in a contested election, a sign<br />that Bulgarians still see their future lying with the European Union.<br />While official results were not expected until Monday, it appeared<br />that the former leader, Boiko Borisov, would form a new government in Bulgaria, the European Union’s poorest member, probably in a coalition with an alliance of smaller right-wing nationalist parties.<br />Some voters saw Mr. Borisov as a stabilizing influence who would not alienate Russia, even though, as a supporter of Bulgaria’s membership in both the European Union<br />and NATO, his previous government backed sanctions against the Kremlin.<br />The election of President Trump, who has criticized the European Union<br />and NATO and expressed admiration of Mr. Putin — further emboldening the Russian leader — have made the challenge tougher.<br />The result appeared to be a disappointment for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who has sought to exploit divisions in the European<br />Union to strengthen Russia’s influence — particularly in a country like Bulgaria, which was one of the Soviet Union’s closest allies.
