A symptom of how bad things have become

Michael, един наш сънародник, който живее в Англия (след като е заминал оттук, от България, на съвсем ранна детска възраст и поради това разбира български, но му е трудно да го говори и особено да се изразява писмено) по повод на един мой видеокоментар ми написа писмо, което ме порази със своята загриженост за ситуацията у нас, и също с най-дълбоко разбиране на случващото се, което, впрочем, липсва на толкова много наши сънародници, живеещи тук, в пределите на България. Затова счетох за нужно да публикувам писмото му в оригинал, надявам се, той няма да възрази. Ако някой, който е добър с английския и го преведе, ще му бъда много благодарен и веднага ще публикувам и вариант на български език за тия, които не разбират английски.

Dear Mr Grancharov, I just saw your latest (longer than normal video blog). I am as angry and depressed as you are about the state of things in Bulgaria. Dogan's response to the DSB's questions about his property and wealth was typical of him - once again showed himself to be an arrogant base creature. He assured the Bulgarian people that within a week or so he will prove that any property he has was fairly gotten. I have no doubt that he will do this. Given his network of contacts and wealth I am sure he could prove (on paper) that his wealth is legitimate and also, should he wish, that he is a direct descendent of Mohamed and related to Jesus Christ and Elijah at the same time.

I expect no interesting news either from Mr Dogan's forthcoming presentation nor from any investigation of his property/wealth by the DSB or any organ of the Bulgarian state. Like many of the most "successful" former Durjavna Sigornosk agents his wealth is carefully hidden in a network of offshore companies (usually registered in places like Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Isle of Man, Jersey etc) and foreign bank accounts (in my time I have come across several western bankers who helped former communists from Eastern Europe store their money offshore). So, on the surface, he can present himself to be as poor as one of Bulgaria's pensioneers if he wishes.

News last week that Philip Dimitrov (the former Prime Minsiter) is to withdraw from politics is another depressing development for me. He is not even going to wait until the next election to give up his seat in parliament - he plans to resign early next month. He is one of a very small number of uncorrupt and uncorruptable Bulgarian polticians. That he sees no place for himself in the country's politics is terrible and a symptom of how bad things have become.

The forthcoming EU report is a great hope for me. I hope the EU does not try to spare the government anything. I hope the report tells it the way it is in Bulgaria - that the government and the state machinery is corrupt from top to bottom, that the theft of EU funds cannot go on and that as a result all EU funds are to be suspended until there are real reforms. If the EU does this it will be doing the Bulgarian people a great service.

However, the Bulgarian people will then have to play their role too. If they want rid of the bandits who run their country they will have to go out on the streets and protest and force early elections (step one). Then the Bulgarian people will have to be clever enough NOT to elect the former fireman/policeman Boiko Borrisov because it is clear to anyone with half a brain that he is a creation of the former DS (step two). These two steps I fear will prove too much for the Bulgarian people whose naivety is epic. And then there really will be no excuses. Bulgarians will have only themselves to blame. As the old English saying goes "A people get the leaders they deserve".

Best wishes Michael

Благодаря ти, драги Michael, за вълнуващото писмо! Надявам се не възразяваш, че го публикувах в своя блог за читателите му. За нас тук, в България, е много важно да чуем твоя глас. А пък това, че имаме такива мислещи и разбиращи сънародници като теб по света, загрижени за съдбата на нашата България, ни кара много да се гордеем с вас!

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