site.btaMedia Review: April 2

OVERVIEW

No single issue dominates Thursday’s media, but the note sent by Iran to Bulgaria, the security agreement signed between Bulgaria and Ukraine, and the justice minister’s request for the disciplinary dismissal of the acting prosecutor general, are among the main topics.
 
POLITICS

Speaking on Nova TV’s morning programme regarding a note sent by Iran to Bulgaria, caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky said that a note is a normal diplomatic practice in a period of tensions and crises. "It is not a threat but a warning," she added. Bulgaria maintains dialogue with Iran and bilateral diplomatic relations are intact. "We have repeatedly assured them that Bulgaria is not participating in the war, no combat aircraft are flying over our airspace and there is no refuelling over Bulgarian territory," Neynsky said. According to her, the presence of US aircraft at Sofia Airport has been arranged with Washington through a bilateral note for training activities over a period of time. Neynsky noted that the decision had been taken before the present caretaker government assumed office on February 19. Commenting on the security agreement between Bulgaria and Ukraine signed by caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Neynsky said the memorandum of understanding is a political framework that has been discussed and worked on by several successive governments. There are no legal obligations for Bulgaria, any action the country wishes to undertake must go through the National Assembly. Neynsky added that there are no financial commitments for Bulgaria.

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The online edition of Duma, duma.bg, reports on an interview by BSP-United Left floor leader and candidate for Member of Parliament Natalia Kiselova for Bulgaria ON AIR TV, saying that "the behaviour of caretaker Prime Minister [Andrey] Gurov is inconsistent with the parliamentary nature of the Republic." According to Kiselova, the agreement signed with Ukraine binds the next several parliaments. "The previous caretaker PM [Dimitar] Glavchev, sought political consent from the National Assembly for such an agreement, and when he did not receive it, he did not sign," Kiselova recalled, emphasizing that now the National Assembly and the president had not even been notified. She also expressed concern that talks regarding the sale of the reactors at the Belene Nuclear Power Plant are continuing. "BSP-United Left has launched a petition among Bulgarian citizens demanding that the government withdraw from the agreement with Ukraine," Kiselova added. In her words, the stagnation of administrative positions in the judiciary disrupts the normal functioning of the judicial system. "We see the Justice Minister’s effort to remove Sarafov as acting head [of the prosecution service]. For me, of the five arguments presented, one of the most significant is why, after notifying the European Public Prosecutor’s Office that they were initiating preliminary proceedings against the Bulgarian European prosecutor, they [the prosecution] did not proceed. This way, we wouldn’t have been left with the perception that the prosecutor’s office is acting selectively. At least in this case, they should have been consistent," Kiselova said. According to her, the decision on the prosecutor general will be postponed until after the elections. She emphasized that MPs must secure 160 votes to elect a new composition of the Supreme Judicial Council.

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The schemes involving parallel justice, Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov’s request for the disciplinary dismissal of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov and the information from the Interior Ministry regarding a trip abroad by Sofia City Prosecutor Emilia Rusinova in the company of Petyo "the Euro" Petrov were discussed on bTV’s morning programme by Ivan Bregov, head of the Law Programme of the Institute for Market Economics, and journalist Viktor Ivanov. Both participants expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of real judicial reform after the elections. According to Ivanov, the model for electing the Supreme Judicial Council implies political deals, according to Bregov, dependencies within the current council must be resolved before a new one is formed. The general conclusion was that despite repeated legislative and constitutional changes, the systemic problem remains unresolved, and reforms often boil down to a change of personnel without addressing the deep-seated structural dependencies.

ELECTIONS

With parliamentary elections approaching on April 19, Bulgaria will vote for the eighth time in five years, with 14 parties and 10 coalitions registered. Alongside major contenders, many lesser-known parties are also running. Dnevnik.bg prepared a report whose purpose is to help voters understand who is behind the names on the ballot. These smaller groups are often: splinters from larger parties; anti-establishment; prone to conspiracy rhetoric and distrust of institutions; focused on themes like fighting corruption, "the mafia", or changing Bulgaria’s geopolitical direction. The article reviews several of these parties: Direct Democracy advocates stronger citizen control, including recalling elected officials and separating powers through direct voting. Truth and Nothing but the Truth People’s Party is led by a controversial figure with criminal convictions who uses extreme religious and anti-corruption rhetoric. My Bulgaria Coalition unitesseveral small groups and is linked to a businessman convicted for drunk driving. Movement of Non-Party Candidates campaigns against corruption and claims it will transform the “mafia-controlled” parliament. Anti-Corruption Bloc brings together splinter groups from reformist parties, focusing on judicial reform and EU integration. Defiant Bulgaria National Movement, led by former socialist leader Korneliya Ninova, promotes stronger state involvement in the economy. Treti Mart (March 3) coalition includes figures like former prosecutor general Ivan Geshev and has nationalist overtones. Nation Party supports a geopolitical shift away from the EU toward Russia and BRICS. Bulgaria Can promotes conservative, sovereigntist policies and includes former members of other nationalist parties. Saprotiva (Resistance) is a rebranded nationalist formation with a history of unusual candidates and alliances. Party of the Greens opposes the EU Green Deal and supports nuclear energy. Glas Naroden (People’s Voice) Party is a small protest party led by musician Svetoslav Vitkov. The article highlights how these minor parties are fragmented, often populist, and unlikely to gain major support, but still reflect ongoing political instability and voter dissatisfaction.

WORLD POLITICS

Trump’s messages about the war in Iran have been contradictory, Bulgarian National Television Chicago correspondent Simeon Gasparov said in the TVs morning programme, commenting on Trump’s address to the nation on the Iran war. "A speech that, instead of giving us clarity on how this war will end, how things and the economy will recover, and how we will return to normal life, only confused us even more. Trump did not provide clarity on how the conflict will end. Yes, he repeated things we’ve been hearing for over a month now, that the end is near, that the war will be over in two or three weeks. But now there’s talk again of strikes, of sending Iran "back to the Stone Age". He said he could easily destroy the oil fields, but at the same time he said he doesn’t want to do that so the country can recover. One of the things that made the strongest impression was his appeal to US allies from Europe and NATO. He implied that since he had "put the potatoes in the fire", they would be the ones to take them out and open the strait of Hormuz, which is heavily mined and poses a serious threat to shipping."

ECONOMY

In an interview on Bulgarian National Radio, economist Georgi Vuldzhev from the Expert Club for Economics and Policy (EKIP) says the government’s response to the fuel crisis is generally appropriate, as current measures are targeted at the most affected sectors like transport, agriculture, and energy. He said that the government cannot stop inflation but can compensate households and businesses through direct payments rather than tax cuts. "If the measures are short-term, the impact on the budget will be negative, but it won't be dramatic." Vuldzhev added that inflation in Bulgaria was already relatively high and is now expected to increase further due to rising oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East. He criticized calls for aid from sectors like hospitality and restaurants, saying they have not been significantly harmed and may have even increased profits, making such support unjustified. He said that inflation is largely driven by external factors beyond government control, and policy should focus on targeted compensation rather than broad interventions.

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Trud’s front page article says that the Council for Economic Analyses (BCEA) has proposed a set of economic measures in its 2025 annual report to the Bulgarian government, focusing on maintaining stability and maximizing the benefits of adopting the euro. A key recommendation is to increase property taxes, possibly by updating property valuations. This is seen as a way to reduce the budget deficit and support a more conservative fiscal policy, which is considered necessary in the context of rising housing prices and household lending. The report emphasizes that once Bulgaria adopts the euro, fiscal policy will become the main tool for economic stabilization. Therefore, careful budget management will be crucial. Other proposals include: higher pensions, especially to protect vulnerable groups from inflation; lower social security contributions for companies in export sectors, particularly in less developed regions; support for industry and innovation through EU funding programmes and subsidies. The report also stresses the need for close monitoring of the economy by both the government and the central bank. Depending on conditions, policies may need to either cool down the economy or curb excessive lending. If inflation rises significantly, the government should provide targeted support to poorer households, especially pensioners, who are most affected and cannot benefit from wage increases.

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In an article Mediapool.bg writes that three months after adopting the euro, it has become a normal part of daily life in Bulgaria, with the transition described as smooth and without major disruptions. A February 2026 survey by the Alpha Research polling agency shows strong overall approval, with positive views outweighing negative ones - 83%:16%. Public support for euro area membership is also growing: 54% support it, while 41% remain critical, and businesses are even more supportive. The successful transition is largely attributed to high public awareness, driven by information campaigns from institutions like the Bulgarian National Bank. Most people adapted quickly, with 69% saying they easily switched to using only euro. Businesses also report few problems, with about two-thirds experiencing no difficulties. Overall, the euro is increasingly seen as a routine and accepted part of economic and social life in the country.

SOCIETY

24 Chasa’s front page article reads: Warning! A fine and license suspension for exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h. Proposed changes to the regulation would result in 18 points being deducted for a first offense and 26 points for a repeat offense. New traffic law changes in Bulgaria introduce stricter penalties for repeat speeding offenders. A driver is now considered a “systematic violator” if they receive three speeding tickets within one year, with the second fine doubled and the third tripled. The rules for restoring penalty points have also changed: points can be partially restored once per year and fully restored automatically after two years. Drivers who lose all their points lose their license and must wait at least 6 months, pass a psychological test, and retake driving exams to get it back. A key change takes effect on May 7, 2026, when penalty points will start being deducted based on average-speed camera violations. The average-speed system, introduced in September 2025, has already recorded over 45,000 violations. The director of the National Toll Administration, Oleg Asenov, explains that the system itself only records data, while the police issues fines based on certified evidence. Although still limited in use, it appears effective, speeding in monitored sections has dropped from about 1 in 3 drivers to 1 in 10, with fewer deaths and serious injuries reported. Currently, there are 36 monitored road sections, about 493 km, mainly on major motorways. The system calculates speed by measuring the time a vehicle takes to travel between two checkpoints, rather than catching instant speed.Overall, the reforms aim to improve road safety through stricter enforcement and new technology.

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The headline of Telegraf’s front page story reads: mayors chase reckless drivers with cameras. Sofia is installing 20 devices along boulevards that are used as racetracks, the first after St George’s Day, May 6. Smaller municipalities are also "sharpening the axe". The article addresses plans to enhance road safety in the capital and smaller municipalities around the country by installing stationary speed control cameras at critical locations. The decision to install these cameras aims to address speeding and improve overall traffic safety.

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Segabg.com writes that a Bulgarian court has rejected a claim to confiscate assets worth about BGN 2.37 million from Energy Minister Traicho Traikov, ending the case at first instance after eight years. The court ruled that Traikov’s income exceeded his assets, meaning there was no unexplained wealth or legal basis for confiscation. It also found no proof of illegal activity linked to the property, which is required under both Bulgarian law and European human rights standards. The Illegal Assets Forfeiture Commission that filed the case must now pay significant legal costs and fees. The case stemmed from earlier accusations related to the privatization of an energy company, but Traikov had already been acquitted in criminal court. The decision is not final and can still be appealed.