CIPE long-term partner in Bulgaria, the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), has been predicting that Borisov would become the next prime minister ever since he has demonstrated his leadership as Sofia’s up-and-coming mayor elected in 2005. As mayor, Borisov emphasized accountable and responsive governance as he took an active role in fighting corruption in the capital city. He promoted transparent partnerships between the city government and the business community, a concept solidified by his CIPE/CSD-sponsored visit to Washington, D.C. in 2007.
Borisov’s first public-private partnership project that underwent an open public procurement process under the eyes of Sofia’s residents resulted in private contractors revitalizing over 20 city parks and recreation areas, previously seen as dangerous havens for crime. Cities across the country have followed Sofia’s example to fight corruption and set up similar public-private partnerships for keeping their roads and parks clean. CIPE Annual Report for 2007 featured Borisov’s support for CSD’s initiative to strengthen open and effective public-private cooperation as key to combating corruption.
According to today’s Wall Street Journal, Borisov’s pre-election campaign that pledged to “clamp down on chronic corruption … appears to have carried weight with an electorate weary from economic woes and chronic corruption.” Sofia’s, and now Bulgaria’s, citizens realize that the style of leadership where the government openly cooperates with the business community can curb corruption in Bulgaria and bring the country back on track of economic growth. Dr. Ognian Shentov, CSD’s Chairman, was quoted in WSJ: “it looks like we will have a much stronger government than we anticipated that will be able to make the difficult decisions necessary to come through the recession.” Borisov now faces the enormous task of alleviating the economic impact of the global economic downturn while restoring public confidence in the Bulgarian government.
Published Date: July 06, 2009