site.btaMedia Review: May 19

OVERVIEW

The Government’s measures to tighten public spending and the competition between Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas to host Eurovision 2027 after Bulgaria’s win with DARA dominated the media on Tuesday. Several outlets also covered the cost of retirement bonuses in the public sector, the risks of price-control checks in pharmacies, labour shortages, judicial reform, and Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s foreign-policy positioning.

POLITICS

24 Chasa writes that exactly 30 days after the elections, Radev has passed his first public test by moving to freeze the automatic rise in MPs’ salaries. The daily recalls that it had urged the winners [of the last parliamentary elections] to abolish the rule under which MPs’ pay automatically increases every three months, describing it as a gesture of public empathy. The daily cites Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev, who said that the automatic mechanism should also be reviewed for elected officials, senior civil servants, the judiciary and other highly paid public-sector groups. 24 Chasa notes that the Government is also targeting salaries in the boards of state-owned enterprises and state agencies, where pay is tied to the average wage. According to Donev, taxes will not be raised, the pension “Swiss rule” remains, and pensions will increase by 7.8% from July 1. The maximum contributory income will rise by EUR 189 to EUR 2,300, while approved projects under the recovery plan amount to EUR 4.2 billion by 2028, with another EUR 1.1 billion awaiting payment. “We are introducing strict financial discipline and freezing salary growth across the public sector,” Donev said. 

Trud writes that the Government will cut public-sector wage costs by 10% from September 1, without reducing individual salaries. The daily says the measure will be implemented through a review of structures and cuts, starting with vacant posts, while taxes will remain unchanged. The daily also cites Donev, who said the state budget has been run under the principle “we spend now, whoever comes next will deal with it.” He reported a deficit of EUR 1.75 billion at the end of April, another EUR 2.55 billion in pending expenditure, and EUR 1.1 billion in unpaid municipal projects for the current year. “We are putting an end to the state feeding troughs,” Donev said. He added that no public-sector employee should receive a basic salary higher than the president’s. Trud adds that an advance corporate tax payment of EUR 363 million from banks in 2025 has a negative effect on the revenue side of the 2026 budget.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) has an interview with Progressive Bulgaria MP and Chair of the ad hoc parliamentary budget and finance committee, Konstantin Prodanov, on the Cabinet’s first fiscal measures. Prodanov said the measures are only the beginning and that the 2026 and 2027 budgets will bring further steps to bring the deficit within the 3% limit. According to him, this is especially important in Bulgaria’s first year in the eurozone and after the recently announced improvement of the country’s credit rating, linked to the election result, the prospect of a stable four-year term, fiscal responsibility and consolidation. “This will require quite harsh measures in some areas,” he said. He explains that ministries have been instructed to reduce personnel costs by 10% from September 1 without cutting individual salaries. The 5% pay rise in the extended budget will remain, with savings first coming from vacant posts and then from optimization within each ministry.

Mediapool.bg publishes an interview with political scientist Teodor Slavev of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives on judicial reform, price controls and the first steps of Radev’s Cabinet. Slavev says the first judicial reform steps by Progressive Bulgaria look encouraging, but the key test will be the election of members of the Supreme Judicial Council. “The big question is what kind of people Parliament will elect to the Supreme Judicial Council,” Slavev said. In his words, this will be the first major sign of what the new government intends to do. He warns that procedural rules can help only partly if there is no genuine will to choose the most suitable candidates. Slavev said Radev now has “practically unlimited power” because he has an absolute majority, which means society can rely only on the government’s good intentions. He also notes that Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov appears linked more to the status quo than to reform because of his professional background in institutions connected to former prosecutor general Sotir Tsatsarov. Slavev also comments on the Cabinet’s price-control measures, saying there is no problem with strengthening regulators when markets are distorted, but administrative intervention in pricing is usually negative. He calls announced operations against high prices “wild police populism” and asks: “What are we going to do? Arrest price labels? Or some shopkeeper?”

EUROVISION 2027 HOST CITY RACE

Sofia

24 Chasa compares the four possible Bulgarian host cities for Eurovision 2027. According to the daily, Sofia is the favourite to host Eurovision because it has the country’s largest hotel base, the largest international airport and a suitable indoor venue. The capital has 14,798 rooms and 31,386 beds, while Arena Sofia can hold between 15,000 and 17,900 spectators for concerts. The daily notes that Vasil Levski Airport handled 8.4 million passengers in 2025, with an average of 200 aircraft a day, and can receive large aircraft. Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said the city proved it can host major events through the Giro d’Italia. “Sofia can host major events,” Terziev said, adding that the Giro organizers described the Bulgarian start as the strongest opening stage outside Italy in 25 years.

BNT reports that Sofia is preparing a mass celebration at Knyaz Alexander I Square after Bulgaria’s historic Eurovision 2026 victory. The event is organized by Sofia Municipality and BNT, with an open concert scheduled for 18:00. The celebration includes a red carpet, three stages, DJ sets by THEO, Teddy Georgo and Diass, and DARA’s performance as the finale. Arena Sofia is listed as the main venue for a possible 2027 hosting bid, although the metro station near the hall will not be completed by May 2027.

Nova TV has an interview with Minister of Culture Evtim Miloshev on Bulgaria’s preparations to host the Eurovision. Miloshev said he had already discussed the issue with Radev and that the Cabinet will decide by May 24 what coordination structure will manage the process. Miloshev said Eurovision includes the choice of venue, the organization of the song contest, TV production, logistics, financing, security, marketing and advertising. “This is not within the capacity of the public broadcaster alone. This is a national event,” he said. According to him, Sofia is currently the most likely host because of logistics, transport connections and infrastructure, but Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas must also be reviewed. The key requirement is a hall with a capacity of at least 10,000 people, while Sofia has previous experience from hosting Junior Eurovision in 2015 at Arena 8888 Sofia. Miloshev said that the biggest challenge will be coordination between institutions rather than infrastructure. He also said it is too early for a budget estimate, but the government is treating the matter seriously. “For me, the greatest benefit is precisely Bulgaria’s visibility beyond the country’s borders, on the European and world stage,” he said.

bTV has an interview with Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev on Sofia’s bid to host Eurovision 2027. Terziev said the scale of the contest requires it to be held in Sofia, citing the capital’s larger venue, accommodation base and airport capacity. He said a meeting had already been held with Culture Minister Miloshev and BNT Director General Milena Milotinova, but the formal decision rests with BNT and the State. “We have an enormous amount of work ahead of us that must be done jointly by institutions, the State, the city, and the media,” Terziev said. Asked about the cost, Terziev said the event would require “tens of millions of euros” and would likely be comparable to Vienna. He added that Sofia Municipality still has to analyze what infrastructure changes may be needed.

Varna

24 Chasa writes that Varna wants to host the contest as DARA’s hometown. The city has about 12,000 beds outside the summer season, and Varna Airport handled 1.8 million passengers in 2025, with 10,674 regular flights. However, the main indoor venue, the Palace of Culture and Sports, has about 5,100 seats, which is below Eurovision’s requirement for a hall of at least 10,000 spectators.

Plovdiv

24 Chasa notes that Plovdiv presents itself as a natural host because of its experience as European Capital of Culture. Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov said that if the choice is based only on airport and hall capacity, Sofia is the top choice, but if the goal is “a city with spirit, culture and atmosphere,” Plovdiv has much to show. Kolodruma Hall has 6,000 seats and would need upgrades, while Plovdiv Airport handled 200,000 passengers in 2025 and has a target of 1 million by 2030.

Burgas

24 Chasa also writes that Burgas argues it does not lag behind Sofia in infrastructure. Arena Burgas has 5,200 permanent seats, can reach 6,000 to 6,500 with movable stands, and can hold up to 15,000 for large concerts with standing areas. Burgas also points to its airport, a recently repaired 3-kilometre runway, more than 50 direct flights to European cities, and hotel capacity in Sunny Beach, Nessebar and Pomorie, all within about 20 minutes by car.

BNT reports that Burgas supported its Eurovision 2027 bid with a flashmob by more than 200 children outside Arena Burgas. Young dancers from several schools performed choreography to Bangaranga, DARA’s winning song, turning the space in front of the hall into an open-air stage. City’s Deputy Mayor for Culture Diana Savateva said this was Burgas’s “sympathetic way to say thank you, DARA” and to show that the city is ready to host Eurovision 2027. The broadcaster notes that the Eurovision euphoria has spread to schools, where bells in Burgas and Sofia are already playing Bangaranga.

ECONOMY

Nova TV reported that the tourism sector sees Eurovision 2027 as an economic opportunity that could turn initial organization costs into major benefits. Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association Deputy Chair Veselin Nalbantov said the event could bring more international interest, more tourists, and growth in tourism, hospitality and services. Nalbantov said the effect would not be only short-term, because Eurovision could strengthen Bulgaria’s position as a tourist destination for years. Tourism representatives thank DARA for the visibility her success brings to the country and already expect stronger interest before the contest itself. The report notes that Sunny Beach could play a major role if Burgas is selected as host. Nalbantov said the resort has a huge accommodation base and could host many guests about 30 to 40 kilometres from Burgas. He added that Bulgaria has more than 2 million beds, while the Sunny Beach area has about 400 hotels and can accommodate up to 700,000 people in peak summer months. Hotel management company manager Desislava Dimitrova said that booking platforms already show hundreds of reservations for May 2027, mostly for May 11-15 and May 20-22, 2027. “The gift that DARA gave to the tourism industry is huge,” Dimitrova said, adding that Bulgaria must use the moment to turn interest into long-term visits.

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Nova TV reports that economists see the Cabinet’s budget measures as a first step, but not enough to solve the structural problems in public finances. The discussion TV’s morning programme included Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Executive Director Dobrin Ivanov, financial journalist Stefan Antonov and economist Georgi Angelov. The experts said the main problem is the imbalance between rising expenditure and weaker revenue. Angelov noted that some capital expenditure will not be implemented within the year, which will temporarily reduce pressure on the budget, but liabilities from previous periods and new payments for large infrastructure and municipal projects remain. Antonov described the measures as “a step in the right direction,” but warned that if the cuts take effect only in the autumn, their real impact on the current budget will be limited. Ivanov said the real deficit is higher than the official figure if unpaid liabilities, deferred payments and advance-spent funds are included. The three experts agreed that Bulgaria needs a deep functional reform of public administration rather than a mechanical 10% reduction for all structures. Angelov notes that Bulgaria has hundreds of administrative units and more than 260 municipalities, some of which lack capacity to perform their functions effectively.

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Speaking in an interview for Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry, Alexander Poulev, said that the next step will cover the working poor, meaning people with income below two minimum wages. Using the current 2026 minimum wage of EUR 620.20, the threshold would be about EUR 1,240.40 per month, although final parameters have not yet been set.

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Trud writes that the Government is preparing a new compensation scheme for high fuel prices. The mechanism will be triggered by the price levels of petrol, diesel and other energy sources, with the most vulnerable groups first receiving subsidized transport cards. The daily notes that the previous support scheme provided EUR 20 to low-income car owners when fuel prices exceeded EUR 1.60 per litre. For March, the state helped 210,934 people, while only 28,078 of nearly 50,000 applicants met the criteria. Trud adds that 11.8% of employed people aged 18 to 64 were working poor in 2025, or around 330,000 people.

LABOUR

Telegraph writes in an op-ed entitled “Wind of Change” that Bulgaria will hire 19,000 seasonal workers who can stay in the country for up to 90 days. The daily says the need to import labour has become sharper in recent years, while business organizations increasingly press for easier procedures and a fast track for workers from non-EU countries. The daily notes that many of these jobs are low-paid and that Bulgarian companies often cannot hire Bulgarians for unqualified work. It argues that many Bulgarian workers prefer to receive a minimum wage in Germany rather than in Bulgaria because they get better pay, conditions and treatment. Telegraph says Bulgarian employers should stop trying to solve labour shortages through cheap imported labour and instead reduce profits in order to pay workers more. The daily adds that imports should exist, but Bulgarians should not be deprived of the opportunity to work and develop in their own country. Telegraph adds that Labour needs are highest in construction, agriculture, industry, hotels and restaurants, which account for 70% of companies seeking foreign labour. Bulgarian companies already employ workers from 86 countries, mostly Uzbekistan, India, Turkiye and the Kyrgyz Republic.

JUDICIARY

24 Chasa writes that about 110,000 people in Bulgaria work in positions that guarantee up to 20 salaries upon retirement or leaving. This covers 20% of all civil servants, or 3.7% of all working Bulgarians. The daily reports that around 50,000 Interior Ministry employees, about 30,000 military personnel, between 6,000 and 7,000 employees in security services, and about 6,000 people in the prison and court-security systems have access to this privilege. In the judiciary, the right applies to around 2,200 judges, 1,500 prosecutors and 500 investigators. 24 Chasa notes that the average gross salary in the security sector is around EUR 1,430, meaning an average retirement payment of EUR 28,600. In defence, the average gross salary is around EUR 1,380, or EUR 27,600 in compensation, while in the judiciary the average gross salary is around EUR 4,463, producing an average 20-salary payment of EUR 89,260. 24 Chasa reports that around 5,000 working pensioners remain employed in the Interior Ministry, while another 591 employees acquired pension rights last year. They are not released because paying them 20 salaries would cost the budget around EUR 200 million. The Institute for Market Economics estimates that cutting 10,000 public-sector jobs would cost at least EUR 140 million, while cutting more than 100,000 would require more than EUR 1.5 billion.

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BNR has an interview with lawyer Tsvetomir Todorov of the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives on magistrates’ assets and cars. Todorov said magistrates in Bulgaria are not poor, which he describes as good news, but added that the problem is the lack of control over their work. Todorov said the institute analyzed declarations by 4,162 magistrates for the period 2016-2025. These declarations list more than 20,000 properties and more than 7,000 cars. He added that 38% of magistrates have more than one apartment, while 3.6% have five or more apartments. He said magistrates should be well paid, significantly above the average, as a safeguard against corruption and trading in influence. Junior magistrates receive EUR 2,450, while supreme judges, prosecutors and investigators at the National Investigation Service receive nearly EUR 5,000. On judicial reform, Todorov said whoever elects the Supreme Judicial Council will most likely control who becomes prosecutor general and chair of the Supreme Administrative Court.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

BNR publishes an interview with international analyst Tsvetan Krastev on Radev’s meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Bulgaria’s foreign-policy positioning. Krastev said Germany wanted to see where the new government stands, especially after German media had described the incoming Bulgarian PM as pro-Russian. According to Krastev, Bulgaria now appears closer to Austria and Italy, which favour more diplomacy and dialogue with Russia. At the same time, he said Bulgaria differs from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland and Sweden, which support higher defence spending and believe the war in Ukraine must first be decided on the battlefield before negotiations can begin. He noted that Bulgaria did not support the initiative for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war against Ukraine. “There is moderation, but there is also a clash with reality,” Krastev said, adding that Radev speaks one way to foreign partners and another way to domestic voters.