Saw this one today and just had to post it.
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian villagers have named their home-made rakia brandy “Borisovka,” playing on the name of Prime Minister Boiko Borisov to thank him for stopping parliament from raising taxes on alcohol.
Last month, the Balkan country’s new center-right government abandoned plans to raise alcohol taxes after public anger that this would threaten a centuries-old tradition of making wine and rakia at home.
But the parliament’s budget commission later proposed a hike from 2010 and parliament was due to approve the increase on Wednesday when Borisov, a firefighter by training with a black belt in karate, stepped in and asked deputies to scrap the plan.
To express their gratitude, the villagers of Kapatovo, 170 km (100 miles) south of Sofia, decided to call their 2009 rakia “Borisovka,” emulating Russian vodka brand “Putinka” that plays on the name of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Nice to know that at least one European leader has his head screwed on straight when it comes to allowing the free market to do it’s thing. So, I figure I’ll offer a toast to Prime Minister Boiko Borisov – and I’m wondering how hard it would be to obtain a bottle of genuine Borisovka rakia.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Boris compares favorably to Romney, who massively increased fees in MA on ordinary working class people, and increased taxes on business.
November 30th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Adam,
I do not believe this Brandy is available in N/A.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
2 – I know
But I did find some relatively cheap Bulgarian Rakias available 
November 30th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I’ll go to Bulgaria next week. If i can find some of that rakija, i’ll buy a bottle or two. I got to know Bojko Borisov a few years ago when he was mayor of Sofia (tha capital af Bulgaria). He is better than the average bulgarian politician (not corrup, he has got some values and he is not owned by the maffia).
His party GERB (which means shield in english) is a relatively new organisation with weak structures. That makes me think that he very well might lose his power.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Staying in the region….
Watch: Romanian president slaps 10-year-old boy” http://ff.im/-ce6X1
November 30th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Kristofer,
Unfortunately it seems like Basescu is going to lose the second round to a former communist, now socialist (his name is Mircea Geoana). I don’t like the President very much but he is the better choice. Under Basescu the Parliament of Romania introduced a flat tax, cracked down on corruption and treated the minorities of the country with respect (6,5%) of the poppulation are fellow Hungarians). If Geoana wins, which sees likely after all the other candidates of the first round endorsed him, all that is going to change.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:16 am
Thanks, Adam. Now I’ve had the “L’Chaim” song from Fiddler on the Roof stuck in my head the entire day…