site.btaMedia Review: June 25

HEADLINES

The dominant topic across print, online, television and radio coverage on Thursday is the draft 2026 State Budget presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev. Coverage focuses on the planned 5.7% deficit, the projected increase in public debt, the absence of major spending reforms and the sharp criticism from Democratic Bulgaria (DB), economists, GERB-UDF figures, employers and trade unions.

Another major story is the fatal crash on the Trakia Motorway near Yambol that killed two nine-year-old players from the Slavia Football Academy and the father of one of the children. Media reports have linked the case to road safety, the condition of crash barriers, the truck driver’s prior traffic violations and the use of public funds earmarked for road safety.

ECONOMY

Dnevnik writes that Finance Minister Galab Donev presents a draft 2026 State Budget with a deficit of 5.7% of GDP, roughly one month after warning that the gap could reach 7.4% without policy changes. The daily notes that the Finance Ministry expects the deficit to fall below 3% only in 2028, with projected revenue of EUR 49.561 billion and expenditure of EUR 56.800 billion.

Dnevnik adds that state debt is expected to reach EUR 37.7 billion in 2026 and EUR 50.5 billion, or 35.2% of GDP, by 2028. The outlet also reports that the Government plans record new borrowing of EUR 10.1 billion in 2026, including EUR 3.26 billion under the EU SAFE instrument, and will accelerate the excise calendar for tobacco products from August 1, 2026.

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Telegraph reports that Donev denied claims that the minimum wage would be frozen and said the Government would not cut incomes, except for pay ceilings affecting some management bodies in state-owned companies. “We will not reduce incomes and take away rights,” Donev said.

Telegraph adds that the Government plans changes from August 1, 2026, including a two-stage shift under which civil servants will begin paying their own social security contributions. The outlet notes that the 5.7% deficit equals EUR 7.2 billion, while the Government’s stated target is to bring the deficit down to 3% in 2028.

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bTV reported that economists Shteryo Nozharov, Nikola Yankov, and Vladimir Sirkarov sharply criticized the draft budget, calling it devoid of reform and internally inconsistent. “This budget cannot be fixed. It must be torn up and thrown in the bin,” Nozharov said.

bTV added that Nozharov pointed to what he called legal and mathematical contradictions in the budget framework, including the simultaneous projection of fiscal consolidation and rising debt. Yankov said the country faces no recession, war, pandemic, or migration shock and therefore has no reason to run such a high deficit.

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Nova TV reported that Democratic Bulgaria (DB) MPs Martin Dimitrov and Vladislav Panev called the draft budget dangerous for financial stability and inflation. Dimitrov said the deficit is the highest since the time of Zhan Videnov, while Panev argued that the budget shows fear of reforms and excessive spending.

Nova TV added that Dimitrov pointed to 75,679 people in the budget sector who receive both a salary and a pension from the state. Panev said administrative maintenance costs rise from EUR 4.3 billion to EUR 5.8 billion and argued that returning them to 2025 levels would lower the deficit to about 4.5% of GDP.

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported that DB called on the Government to withdraw the draft budget and revise it to a 3% deficit without additional expenditure. DB co-chair Ivaylo Mirchev said the proposal resembles earlier budgets associated with GERB-UDF and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF).

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24 Chasa writes that the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) proposes 19 measures to improve the competitive environment in the food sector. The measures cover price transparency, traceability, support for Bulgarian producers, protection against unfair trading practices and stronger food security.

The daily notes that key proposals include a central traceability register, a national Food Observatory, stronger control over quality, labelling, and origin, a new approach to public procurement, and targeted programmes for milk, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables. The executive must inform the CPC of the measures it will take and when they will be implemented.

POLITICS

Capital writes that the judicial law has reached its final parliamentary stage with unresolved questions over the election of a new Supreme Judicial Council and its Inspectorate. Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov says the bill’s main purpose is to organize these elections, while broader judicial reform issues should be left for a later package.

Capital notes that the legal committee rejected a series of Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria proposals on nominations and integrity checks, including broader nomination rights for the legal and academic communities, additional independence criteria, checks on surveillance and investigations, and restrictions on active prosecutors entering the parliamentary quota. The weekly adds that several more technical proposals were accepted, including video monitoring of ballot counting.

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Mediapool.bg reports that former caretaker PM Andrey Gurov accused the Central Election Commission of sabotaging the elections and trying to create a second Kostinbrod affair over misprinted ballots for Shumen and Dobrich. “Throughout the entire period, the Central Election Commission sabotaged the elections, to be honest,” Gurov said.

The site adds that Gurov also criticized what he called systematic work against machine voting, including poor maintenance, unsuitable paper and failure to rebut false claims about malfunctioning machines on election day. He said fewer than 1% of machines were out of order by the end of voting.

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24 Chasa writes that Bulgaria ranks among the European countries with the highest turnover of prime ministers since 2016. The daily cites Maven Mapping data showing Romania with 13 prime ministers, Bulgaria with 11 and France and Austria with nine each.

The daily notes that the Balkans and Eastern Europe dominate the group of politically unstable countries, while Albania is presented as the most stable case, with Edi Rama in power since 2013. Prime Minister Rumen Radev is counted as Bulgaria’s eleventh PM since 2016.

JUSTICE

Dnevnik writes that former State Agency for National Security acting chief Denyo Denev refused to discuss the cancelled expulsion order against Ukrainian investor Oleg Nevzorov. “There are documents for everything; I will not comment on anything about the Oleg Nevzorov case,” Denev said.

Dnevnik adds that former Varna State Agency for National Security director Kiril Dimov says he prepared the report behind the initial expulsion proposal and that the stated reason was money laundering. Dimov claims the order was cancelled after a call from the Ukrainian Embassy in Sofia, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed diplomatic correspondence but has not commented on its content.

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Trud writes that Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov addressed Parliament on the Baba Alino case and showed images suggesting that illegal construction in the protected area expanded after 2021. He says properties still formally listed as forest territory received certificates of tolerance despite the absence of a detailed development plan.

Trud adds that the hearing turned into a political dispute over responsibility for the illegal settlement near Varna. GERB-UDF asked why Shishkov did not uncover the scheme while serving as caretaker minister in 2023, while Continue the Change argued that GERB-UDF figures had tried to legalize the construction through planning changes.

SOCIETY

Trud writes that Bulgaria is grieving for two children from Slavia Academy who died in a crash on the Trakia Motorway on June 24, 2026. The two nine-year-old footballers and the father of one of them died after a truck crossed the barrier and hit their car while they were travelling to a football tournament in Albena.

The daily adds that coach Ivan Terziyski and his wife were hospitalized in serious condition. Slavia Academy suspended all activities, and club president Ventseslav Stefanov declared one month of mourning. “These children will never be forgotten,” Stefanov said.

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Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported that prosecutors and police had given details about the fatal crash on the Trakia Motorway. Prosecutor Zhivko Iliev and Senior Commissioner Dobrin Dimitrov said the truck entered the opposite lane and hit the car carrying the children.

BNT added that investigators had ordered a triple automotive technical examination and seized both vehicles. The prosecution is expected to charge the truck driver with violating traffic rules.

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Nova TV reported that the truck driver has 20 previous traffic violations and had been involved in two previous road accidents. The driver has been detained, and prosecutors are expected to extend the measure to 72 hours.

Nova TV added that the truck was empty and owned by the driver. Initial data indicate that its speed was within the permitted limit, while investigators found braking marks at the scene.

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BNT reported that Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev said the crash raised serious questions about the condition of motorway safety infrastructure. He said it was unacceptable for an empty truck to pass so easily through crash barriers.

BNT added that Demerdzhiev called on road authorities to inspect road surfaces, barriers, signs, and adjacent areas, and said the Interior Ministry is checking road-safety spending. He said suspected abuse or criminal inaction would be referred to the competent authorities.

HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL POLICY

24 Chasa writes that Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva supports the digitalization of medical expert examination procedures but warns that it must not create new barriers for people with disabilities. Her position was sent to National Assembly Chair Mihaela Dotsova, parliamentary committees and the relevant ministries.

The daily notes that Delcheva called for strong safeguards for personal and health data, cyber security, traceable access to electronic files, and human control over automated risk assessment. “Digitalization of medical examination must be implemented in a way that does not restrict access to the procedure,” Delcheva said.

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Telegraph reports that National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases director Iva Hristova says the first Ebola case in France does not create a real risk of spread in Europe. She explains that Ebola is not transmitted through the air and requires direct contact with bodily fluids.

Telegraph adds that Hristova also warns of more imported dengue and chikungunya cases among Bulgarian travellers, mainly linked to tropical destinations. She says Bulgaria has recorded five chikungunya cases and three dengue cases since the start of 2026, while measles cases in Vratsa Region have reached 406.

CLIMATE

BNT reported that National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology meteorologist Liliya Bocheva said heatwaves in Bulgaria will become more frequent. She linked the current heatwave in Western and Central Europe to a blocking pattern that kept hot air from Africa over the continent.

BNT added that Bulgaria is becoming warmer, especially in summer, with higher night temperatures limiting the body’s ability to recover from daytime heat. Bocheva also pointed to urban heat islands caused by overbuilding and reduced air corridors in cities.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Telegraph reports that Prime Minister Rumen Radev said US tanker aircraft stationed at Sofia Airport will leave Bulgaria by the end of June. Radev links the move to the earlier deadline he set, while saying the United States remains a key partner.

Telegraph adds that Radev described the United States as Bulgaria’s strategic ally in security and an important partner in energy, the economy, high technologies and artificial intelligence. The outlet also notes that the visa issue for Bulgarian citizens travelling to the United States remains unresolved.