The results of the German polls – this is the hot news across Bulgaria’s printed media today. The newspapers write on “a historical victory” to “Angela Merkel won, but lost 1 mln. voters”. The big winner / loser is the Christian Democratic Union / Christian Social Union. The Trud newspaper writes that yesterday the coalition won the most votes, but at the same time lost the most on the previous election 4 years ago – 33%, or 8.7% less than in 2013 – the worse result since 1949.

German Ambassador to Bulgaria Herbert Salber admitted for the BNT the surprising development of the vote and also the loss of votes by the parties which had been part of the ruling coalition till then. At the same time the diplomat added that he didn’t expect any changes in Germany’s policy towards Bulgaria ensuing the vote results. He expressed his confidence in the enhanced bilateral cooperation over the forthcoming Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU.

There were no official reactions yet of institutions on Monday morning, but a personal Twitter message of PM Boyko Borissov hailed Mrs. Merkel for her poll victory, saying it meant that “Europe would remain strong and united”. The premier also assured that being the leader of Germany’s largest political force Mrs. Merkel could count on Bulgaria as a friend and a strategic partner within the EU and NATO in the future as well.

Although still being partial, the reactions in Sofia come as a sign of the major importance of the events in Germany. It is Bulgaria’s most important partner within the EU and this circumstance gains its additional value now on the eve of the forthcoming EU presidency through the first half of 2018. Yesterday’s poll results in Germany mean that the coalition of Angela Merkel will be the partner of Bulgaria during the presidency. She was the one who assured in early June PM Borissov that the intentions of the Bulgarian presidency coincided with the plans of Berlin and would be supported by Germany. Mrs. Merkel was also the one who openly admitted the strong commitment of Bulgaria in view of the EU external border’s protection, along with its efforts in the fight with human trafficking and illegal migration. The German chancellor gave similar assessments during her talks with President Radev during his initial visit to Germany in early 2017. She then confirmed the intentions of Berlin for comprehensive development of the bilateral relations with Bulgaria.

To sum up, the latest political events in Germany mean that Sofia won’t have to change its attitude in the work with Berlin in a particular manner. However, during this year’s meetings with Bulgarian top statesmen Angela Merkel also voiced to them certain recommendations, showing that Berlin had its critical remarks to Sofia as well. For instance, Mrs. Merkel declared firmly that Bulgaria should take additional measures in the fight with the illegal trafficking of migrants across the border. It must also put particular efforts in the fight with corruption and the struggle for becoming a land of the law. These assessments come to show that during its 4th term the German chancellor will still be demanding in her relations with Bulgaria.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev