There are two extremely perplexing things currently taking place in Bulgarian politics. The first is that one of the country's most popular politicians, Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski, is forming a new political party. The second is that Sofianski is one of the country's most popular politicians.

To take the easy way out, one might just chalk both up to blatant stupidity, but there are always other reasons as well.

His popularity may be the harder one to explain. The always-smiling politician has managed to somehow manifest the love of the Bulgarian people. He has also, according to various people, managed to manifest a lot of money into his own pockets from various work-related sources.

While the mayor has some corrupt-leaning tendencies tied to his work ethic, a large part of Sofia still approves of him as a politician. Perhaps his corruption is considered good corruption as he does, to his credit, get things done in the city.

Others might feel sorry for him. After all, he tried a while ago to create a new party and things just didn't work out, so now he's trying again.

When Bulgaria's savior, former king, present prime minister and future national disappointment, Simeon Saxe-Coburg was pondering whether to return to Bulgaria, Sofianski was instrumental in convincing him to return. Some of his staff even helped form Saxe-Coburg's platform.

Sofianski was to become a bridge for the right in an encompassing coalition where the mayor would become prime minister and lead the electorate's optimism into the future. The National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) was formed, and contrary to conventional expectations, quickly skyrocketed in popularity, so much so that it came only one seat short of winning a majority in the June parliamentary elections.

As things continued to take shape leading up to the elections and after, the Sofianski plan somehow faltered, either on his part or as a result of the wishes of the NMSII. Saxe-Coburg became prime minister, and the mayor made a few last efforts for a deal between the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and the NMSII, and then gave up hope.

Now, a party with a name which includes the words "freedom" and "democracy," will be formed by Sofianski - one more try at national political power.

While planning this new party, he has done his best to create the atmosphere of a split in the UDF for his own gains. He said he has ideological differences with the UDF leader and must renounce his membership with the party.

He has not said who his puppeteer is and why he is really trying to change the political landscape in the country, but it seems he's looking towards being something more than just Sofia's mayor.

Maybe it's truly because he wants to make a difference. Maybe it's because there may be an opportunity for a new party as the popularity of the NMSII is sliding. Or maybe it's out of pure greed.

Whatever the reason, Bulgaria doesn't need a new right wing, European-oriented party throwing around the words "freedom" and "democracy" as much as possible. What the country needs is less talk and more tangible results.