AP: Bulgarian to Vote, Fate of Gas Pipeline in Balance
Bulgarians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether the country continues to build a Russian gas pipeline that would give the Kremlin even more leverage over Europe's energy market — a project the European Union opposes. Here's a look at Bulgaria, the vote and the controversial pipeline:
The Balkan country of over 7 million is very much divided in its loyalties. Bulgaria belongs to NATO and the 28-nation European Union, but many Bulgarians feel a strong kinship to Russia, and the country's extensive dependence on Russian oil and gas leaves it vulnerable to political meddling by the Kremlin.
Opinion surveys predict the biggest vote winner will be center-right GERB party led by a former prime minister, Boyko Borisov, who says he would only continue building Bulgaria's part of the South Stream pipeline if the EU approved. That's a sharp contrast with the Socialists, who want the project at any price.