2009-07-02 17:31:03 -

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) - In a last bid to revive his floundering Socialists' popularity ahead of weekend parliamentary elections, Bulgaria's prime minister is promising to shepherd the country out of the economic crisis.
However opinion polls suggest three out of four Bulgarians want Sergei Stanishev's corruption-tainted government out, more than two years after it won EU membership for the country.
His main opponent, Sofia Mayor Boiko Borisov _ a former bodyguard who leads the center-right GERB party _ is expected to easily win Sunday's vote but may not be able to gain enough seats in parliament to govern without forming a coalition.
Stanishev called on Bulgarians Thursday to give him a second chance, arguing that his Socialist-led coalition had fulfilled its core mission: economic growth, financial stability, higher incomes and increased foreign investments.
«Bulgaria needs an intelligent, capable and stable government that stays away from populism, adventures and unjustified risks,» Stanishev told the state-run BTA news agency.
Despite securing EU membership, Stanishev's government has been widely blamed for failing to improve the quality of everyday life in the Balkan country of 7.6 million, the poorest member of the European Union.
Although unemployment stands at a relatively low 7 percent, opinion polls say more than a third of Bulgarians fear they might lose their job in the near future. And while wage increases have pushed the average salary to ¤300 ($420), it remains the lowest in the 27-member EU.
The main reason for the eroding support, however, has been the government's perceived failure to deal with crime and corruption. This led Brussels to freeze millions in aid last year over fraud.
«I don't want to be ruled by a government thanks to which Bulgaria has become the most corrupt country in the EU,» said Todor Angelov, a 34-year-old technician.
Many Bulgarians see politicians from the Socialist party, as well as from its junior partner _ the mainly Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms _ being part of the problem rather than a credible provider of solutions.
Political analyst Ivan Krastev said the government tolerated high-level corruption and illegal ties between politicians and businessmen.
«This model turned Bulgaria into a country with the least efficient public investments in Europe and with the most disgusting infrastructure,» Krastev said.
Latest opinion polls suggest that the center-right opposition, riding high on promises to jail corrupt officials and crime bosses, is cruising to victory on Sunday.
Borisov and his GERB party are tipped to gain 26-30 percent of the votes, while Stanishev's Socialist party is lagging behind with 19-23 percent, according to a poll conducted by Gallup International.
No margin of error was provided, but polls of this type in Bulgaria usually have a margin of error of 3 percent.

Borisov, a 50-year-old former top policeman, has become the most popular politician in Bulgaria thanks to his charismatic «action man» appeal.
He scored sweeping victories as an independent runner for the Sofia mayor's post in 2005 and again in 2007 after setting up his own political force, Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria, or GERB.
But the challenges of running the country's largest city, with many lingering infrastructure problems dating back to Bulgaria's decades of Communist rule _ have dimmed his appeal.
Despite early indications that GERB could secure an overall majority in parliament, it now looks like the backing of other right-wing parties is needed to form a stable enough coalition to govern.
With up to six other parties expected to enter the deeply fragmented 240-seat parliament, the forming of a stable government might prove a difficult task.
Some 6.9 million Bulgarians are eligible to vote Sunday.