Bulgaria Month, June 9

Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007, and Sunday was the first time it voted in sync with the rest of the EU for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Bulgaria elects 17 of the 736 MEPs (Germany holds the most seats, 99; Malta, the least, 5), and on Sunday an estimated 38 percent of Bulgarians voted to shift more of those seats to a center-right/populist party led by the Sofia mayor. The Financial Times reports that the results suggests the mayor, Boyko Borissov, is the favorite to become Bulgaria’s next leader when citizens return to the polls July 5 to elect their national leaders.

It's sort of interesting to read the (Google translation of) results of an online poll at the winning party's web site, "Who should be the leading priority for the next administration?"

• Combating Corruption and Organized Crime 31.8%
• increasing incomes of citizens 26.1%
• absorption of EU funds 9.2%
• building infrastructure 7.0%
• Reform of the judiciary 6.5%
• investment in education 5.6%
• reducing unemployment 5.4%
• Energy Security 4.3%
• accessible and quality health care 4.0%

It's significantly more interesting, however, to read this story.

Finally, there's this, which is definitely interesting but difficult to figure. The person who posted it appears to have roots with both Bulgaria and Macedonia.