site.btaMedia Review: November 20

POLITICS

Trud writes that constitutional lawyers say Parliament is obliged to complete the procedure on President Rumen Radev’s request for a referendum on the introduction of EUR after the Constitutional Court rules on the actions of former National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova. “The President is entitled to his opinion, but I acted in accordance with the responsibilities of any statesperson. My decision will be subject to review by the Constitutional Court, and I have no concerns regarding that process,” Kiselova says.

Constitutional law professor Plamen Kirov says the next step under the Court’s decision is for the National Assembly chair to send the proposal to committees, which prepare a report and a draft decision for debate and vote in plenary.

Trud writes that Vazrazhdane and VMRO call on Kiselova to resign as MP, with Vazrazhdane welcoming the Court’s interpretative decision that she unlawfully stops the referendum requested by Radev. “Nataliya Kiselova will not serve as caretaker prime minister, nor will she become a Constitutional Court judge. I urge her to resign, as no one should represent Bulgarian citizens while issuing unilateral orders that have been ruled unconstitutional,” Petar Petrov says. Petrov adds that the original of the president’s proposal still stands in the National Assembly registry and that the only document sent back to the presidency is a letter from Kiselova; after the item is not put on the agenda, Vazrazhdane MPs leave the plenary hall.

Trud reports that, commenting on the ruling, Radev says: “The Constitutional Court’s decision is a victory of law over the arbitrariness of the political class. It has retroactive effect and says that the National Assembly chair cannot reject a proposal by a body empowered by law.” He calls on MPs to table and vote on his question, “Do you agree that Bulgaria should introduce the single European currency in 2026?” and adds: “What is taking place in the National Assembly this morning is a farce and constitutes yet another violation of the law regarding the same issue. My proposals and supporting arguments remain on record in the National Assembly’s registry. Instead of enacting legislation, this parliament generates disorder, controversy, and public disillusionment.”

All other dailies also reported on this story.

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported that GERB leader Boyko Borisov said the party proposed Christmas supplements of BGN 120 for pensioners below the poverty line. He said the proposal was raised at a meeting with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and described the 2026 draft budget as “the most generous so far”, adding that the budget could absorb the increase and noting that the European Commission’s forecast deficit for the year was below 3%. “We are not discussing reductions; we are discussing an increase. There has never been such a substantial budget, not even under the most populist coalition formed by Continue the Change (CC),” Borisov said. He supported the higher social security contributions and the doubled dividend tax.

BNR also covered Borisov’s comments on the decision of the Constitutional Court decision and President Rumen Radev’s push for Parliament to examine his proposal for a referendum on the introduction of EUR. “Every political leader is trying to get a dividend for his party. There is no other explanation, because this topic is closed. I take full responsibility. Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone, despite Radev, despite Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), is a strategic goal for Bulgaria and we achieved it,” Borisov said. He denied claims by Continue the Change (CC) chair Assen Vassilev that there had been a meeting between him, newly appointed special administrator of the Lukoil refinery Rumen Spetsov and businessman Valentin Zlatev, and he defended Spetsov’s appointment.

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bTV reported that Continue the Change (CC) staged an art installation of a piggy bank outside Parliament to signal opposition to the 2026 draft budget. CC Chair Assen Vassilev said the installation symbolized “the piggy bank of those in power” and the central budget of Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, adding that it was unclear how the additional BGN 800 million in spending would be used.

Vassilev argued that if the “piggy bank” was not being filled, there would be no need to raise social security contributions and the dividend tax. “The financial plan says it will take BGN 600 from every Bulgarian citizen to fill the authorities’ piggy bank,” Vassilev said. He claimed that wages would not rise next year and businesses would not invest and added that the party was launching a petition for everyone who did not want their money “to go into the piggy bank”.

BNR, Nova TV and Bulgarian National Television (BNT) also reported on that story.

LAW

Trud writes that the Sofia City Court discontinues the criminal proceedings against Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and refers the case to the Supreme Court of Cassation for a ruling on jurisdiction, shortly after the indictment is filed. Judge Snezhina Koleva notes that the charges involve alleged violations of Articles 304b and 321(6) of the Criminal Code, with the main actions taking place in Varna. She points out that the involvement of an individual with immunity, identified by witness Plamenka Dimitrova as MP Assen Vassilev, renders the case inappropriate for the Sofia City Court. The materials concerning the MP have already been assigned to a separate pre-trial case. Her decision is final and cannot be appealed.

24 Chasa writes that defence lawyers from the start contest Sofia’s jurisdiction over a case originating in Varna and the Sofia City Court’s role in remand decisions. The daily recalls that the investigation is based in Sofia because of information about an MP in the alleged bribery scheme, with Dimitrova testifying that this could be CC Chair Assen Vassilev, who asks to be questioned but is refused by the Anti-Corruption Commission, the prosecution and the court.

“Therefore, for the sake of procedural economy and to ensure speed of the proceedings, the case should be heard by the Varna Regional Court,” the Supreme Court of Cassation rules. Kotsev has been in custody since July; after his fourth request for review of his remand measure, the indictment is submitted to the now competent court, which terminates the proceedings and triggers the transfer to Varna.

Mediapool.bg, Dnevnik.bg and Telegraph also reported on this story.

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BNR reported that CC–DB MP Stela Nikolova said Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev would remain in detention “until the Varna Regional Court takes over the case”. She added that Sofia City Court left “an unpleasant feeling that something was not right”, as judges ruling on his remand repeatedly came from the former specialized court and people felt SGC was “not chosen by chance” to keep him in custody.

Nikolova explained that the Supreme Court of Cassation assigned the case to Varna because most defendants and witnesses were from there, after the prosecution “at five to twelve” separated the proceedings for the person with immunity; its decision was not open to appeal. She argued that the prolonged detention, the transfer from remand to prison at the prosecution’s request and the jurisdiction wrangling all served to delay the case and that those who wanted Kotsev removed as mayor had “achieved this”, with deputy mayor Snezhana Apostolova now acting as mayor.

BNR said Nikolova was confident a judge in Varna would hear the case impartially, noting that “the files contain the evidence”. She recalled that a request to change Kotsev’s remand was filed before the indictment but “the prosecution was crawling with the documents up the stairs of Sofia City Court and did not manage to get there before the court ruled”, which she saw as deliberate delay. Nikolova said the prosecution “very much serves certain circles” seeking to overturn the vote in Varna, Sofia and Pazardzhik. The radio recalled that on November 20 protests under the slogan “Freedom for political prisoners. Do not leave democracy behind bars” were held in Sofia and Varna in support of Kotsev and former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov.

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported that the European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group held a closed session on the rule of law in Bulgaria and decided monitoring would continue. Commenting for BNR, Andrey Yankulov from the Anticorruption Fund said there was always interest in hearing civil society, “the question is what follows”.

BNR said Yankulov argued that Bulgaria’s rule-of-law problems are deep and cross-party, but in Brussels they are mostly seen through the lens of political families and “technical criteria”, while in practice “absolutely nothing happens”. He said discontent was strong not only among citizens but also in the professional legal community: “Justice system professionals may also be counted among those who are civically discontent.” Change, he said, required a larger and louder critical mass and added: “Otherwise, I do not see how this can be achieved. Solutions will not come from Europe or elsewhere; we must address these issues ourselves.”

BNR added that, on the case of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, Yankulov said the court could have reacted much earlier to “an obvious abuse of rights” and that serious procedural anomalies had been ignored. He spoke of “brutal mass recusal” in the judiciary, noting around 30,000 recusals since the start of the year.

ECONOMY

Telegraph writes that restaurant prices and portion sizes in Bulgaria go up after New Year as taxes, social security contributions, food, drink, electricity, fuel and wages all rise. In some places both prices and set menus change: a cover charge at a tavern with live music in central Pernik already climbs from BGN 60 to BGN 80, while the hot starter drops from the package. Chicken fillet reaches BGN 18 per kg and a Caesar salad in central Sofia rises from BGN 16 to BGN 20, with salads cut from 400 g to 300 g. Higher dividend tax, rents and fuel, plus a VAT return from 9% to 20% for restaurants while hotels stay at 9%, also push prices. “People have to pay loans, taxes, electricity and bills and will simply not go to restaurants,” Bulgarian Association of Restaurants President Richard Alibegov said.

Telegraph adds that the minimum wage rises from BGN 1,077 to BGN 1,213 and a 2% increase in social security contributions is planned. Alibegov expects over 80% of restaurant payments on New Year’s Eve to be by card and says there will be no problem with change: customers will receive it in the currency they pay in. He notes that bills cannot switch automatically to EUR and then back to BGN, and that this will happen gradually, but receipts already show prices in both currencies.

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Capital writes that economists from the Institute for Market Economics present an alternative budget for 2026, arguing that the problem lies in swollen spending, not insufficient revenue. They say that if nationally financed expenditure is capped at 38% of GDP, there will be no need to raise the tax and social security burden in 2026 and scope will open to reduce it in 2027–2028, while the government draft plans almost 46% of GDP in spending, higher social security contributions, a doubled dividend tax and a 10-point rise in public debt by 2028. Chief economist Lachezar Bogdanov notes that public-sector employment grows by over 5% between 2011 and 2024 while the working-age population shrinks by more than 20%, and personnel costs more than triple and rise by 2.7 percentage points of GDP, with Bulgaria already among EU leaders in spending on internal order and security.

Capital reports that the Institute team proposes a “20/10 rule”: public-sector jobs to fall to 20% of total employment (now 23-24%) and personnel costs to stay below 10% of GDP, implying 50,000-100,000 positions to be freed, including vacant posts, backed by a special fund for severance paid in instalments. The economists also call for a more selective investment policy with clearer criteria for municipal projects, more concessions and a public register of payments, alongside more targeted social transfers, updated tax valuations and higher own revenues for municipalities. In healthcare, they warn that the National Health Insurance Fund’s growing budget is spent inefficiently, with waste such as fictitious hospitalizations: “If nothing is done, the next tax increases will come from here,” Petya Georgieva said. Bogdanov concludes it is enough to slow the growth of spending next year, but if current fiscal policy continues, future cuts will be more painful.

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Capital writes that Bulgarian households still keep most savings in bank deposits and largely ignore mutual funds, despite higher potential returns. Low investment culture, past experiences and prejudice keep money in low-interest accounts, while pyramid-type schemes continue to attract those seeking quick profit.

Capital notes that, by end-September, investment funds offered in Bulgaria manage BGN 12.8 billion in assets, of which BGN 4.06 billion are in local funds. Households hold BGN 3.44 billion in fund units versus about BGN 97 billion in deposits, so mutual funds equal only around 3.5% of deposit volume. Over one year, household assets in funds rise by BGN 880 million, while deposits grow by BGN 12 billion. Bulgaria ranks third in the EU for the share of deposits in total financial wealth at 71% and last for the share of mutual funds at 3%.

Capital adds that many Bulgarian funds post double-digit returns and banks increasingly promote them through their own or partner managers, including small monthly “special investment plans” via mobile apps, but penetration remains low. Roughly half of local fund assets are invested in Bulgaria, 42.6% in EU instruments and only 1.8% in the US; about 43% of assets are in shares and equity, 33% in other funds and the rest in debt securities and similar instruments.

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Nova TV reported that Ukrainian agricultural exports to Bulgaria will remain under a licensing regime in 2026. Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture has prepared a new list of products that will require export and import licences and quotas next year. This list again includes major agricultural goods exported to Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland.

Nova TV reported that exports of wheat, rye, maize, rapeseed (including low-erucic and milled), and sunflower seed to these five EU countries will remain under special monitoring to maintain balanced trade with neighboring states and prevent market disruptions. Ukraine continues to be a leading producer of sunflower seed in Europe, harvesting nearly 9 million tonnes. The combined production of wheat, maize, and barley reached almost 23 million tonnes, while rapeseed output exceeded 3.3 million tonnes.

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Nova TV aired a debate on the 2026 draft budget, focusing on the plan to double the dividend tax and its impact on investment and the business climate. International trade law specialist Ivan Todorov raised doubts “whether additional revenue will be generated and the risks associated with increasing taxes in Bulgaria”, noting that the dividend tax is easy to bypass if firms pay out profits this year or reclassify them as salaries and bonuses. He said Bulgaria is the least developed EU member with the slowest growth among former socialist countries and has “the low flat tax as a single advantage”, arguing taxes should not be raised.

Nova TV reported that economist Rumen Galabinov took the opposite view, saying Bulgaria would enter the eurozone “with the lowest tax rates available” and pointing out that in Greece dividend tax is 5%, but corporate tax is over 20% and VAT 23%. He warned that pension and health contributions, as well as “income and corporate taxes will also increase”, and that eurozone entry does not presume tax cuts. In a separate interview on Nova News, Institute for Market Economics economist Adrian Nikolov presented an alternative 2026 budget capping State spending at 38% of GDP instead of the planned 46%: “Not only can spending be 38%, it needs to be 38% to maintain a sustainable budget path,” he said, adding that this includes a 2% cut in public-sector and staff costs and a full functional review, as personnel spending already exceeds 10% of GDP.

ENVIRONMENT

BNT reported that Environment Minister Manol Genov said ministry inspections found legal breaches in construction within the riverbed at the Elenite resort. “The apocalypse that happened in Elenite is the result of several combined factors – heavy rain, undersized infrastructure and the anthropogenic factor, that is human activity which has damaged the natural environment,” Genov said. He noted there were no coordination procedures with the regional environment inspectorate or the basin directorate and stressed that a riverbed may be covered or built over only “by rules – with hydrogeological calculations and forecasts for water flows”, while permits are issued by the municipal chief architect and the responsibility lies with local authorities.

BNT said Genov saw no discrepancy between the findings of the Environment and Regional Development Ministries and recalled that the national construction control directorate had ordered the demolition of the “park-hotel” built over the river. Violations were found in about 27% of inspected sections in urbanized areas such as Sveti Vlas, Elenite, Tsarevo and Varna, with checks also under way along rivers in Sofia. “The pursuit of profit must not put people’s health and lives at risk. This is unacceptable,” Genov said, adding that illegal buildings on the Black Sea coast would be removed where necessary and that all inspection data were public on the ministry website. “People have the right to justice, especially when it is about loss of human life in disasters that could have been prevented,” he said.

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Trud writes that Deputy Environment and Water Minister Atanas Kostadinov, speaking in the high-level segment of the COP30 climate conference in the Brazilian city of Belem, says: "Climate change is already a reality for Bulgaria," Kostadinov said. He notes that Bulgaria experiences severe floods, droughts, storms and forest fires in recent years, which test the resilience of the population and show that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels must remain attainable. "This goal is vital for safeguarding the common future," Kostadinov said. "First, raising global ambition is crucial for keeping the 1.5C goal; second, stronger ambition is needed on adaptation; third, unity built on diversity is the strongest asset," Kostadinov said. "In 2023 Bulgaria's greenhouse gas emissions fall by more than 60% compared with the base year, and emissions in 2023 drop by 22.32% compared with the previous year," Kostadinov added. "The EU, despite the different structures of the member states' economies, builds the most ambitious climate legislative framework in the world, proof that shared goals are possible when countries work together," Kostadinov noted.

SOCIETY

Duma writes that Deputy Prime Minister and BSP–United Left chair Atanas Zafirov announces that the long-awaited Coordination Mechanism for assistance and support to victims of domestic violence is now in force. As head of the National Council for the Prevention of and Protection from Domestic Violence, Zafirov notes a steady and worrying rise in cases under the Domestic Violence Protection Act, with some regions seeing annual growth of 20-30%, and says the mechanism structures the entire path of a victim from the first report to lasting protection and support.

Duma adds that the mechanism sets clear procedures for coordination between central and local authorities, social services, crisis centres and NGOs so that action is synchronized and protection is fast and effective, with every child at risk treated as a separate victim with specific safeguards. Zafirov explains that the tool is drafted by an interinstitutional working group after expert and public consultations, describes it as a practical instrument rather than a formal document, and notes that its adoption fulfils a commitment in the 2025-2029 governance programme in the justice sector.

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Telegraph writes that teacher and headmaster evaluations will be held every year in June–July during the summer holiday, instead of once every four years in October-November. The change is set out in draft amendments to the ordinance on the status and professional development of teachers and follows first-reading changes to the Pre-school and School Education Act. The aim is to shift the process after the end of the school year and ease administrative pressure, with the first annual evaluations expected at the end of the 2025/26 school year. Teachers fear the system may not cope with yearly assessments and that evaluations could be used for reprisals or influenced by powerful parents.

Telegraph reports that Bulgarian Teachers’ Union chair Yanka Takeva warns that teacher performance depends on teamwork, region, pupil motivation, parental ambition and the presence of different ethnic groups, and says designing fair criteria is very difficult. She questions whether evaluations will lead to rewards or dismissals and warns this could deter people from entering the profession. The Education Ministry says the extra one-year postponement is intended to avoid legal contradictions and ensure predictable professional development policies; annual evaluations will underpin both career progression and corrective measures. Each school principal is expected to create a quality management commission of pedagogical staff to organize self-assessment, analyze data and propose improvements to the pedagogical council.

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Telegraph writes that restaurant industry associations strongly oppose Sofia Municipality’s plan to raise prices and expand the blue and green paid parking zones and say they are ready to take the municipality to court if the changes are not reconsidered. The decision, due to take effect on January 5, 2026, sets the blue zone fee at EUR 2 per hour and the green zone at EUR 1 per hour. Association of Restaurants in Bulgaria chair Emil Kolarov says the measure affects all businesses and residents in the centre, not only restaurants, and argues that spaces are few and not increasing. He criticizes higher prices without reforms, unused “official spaces” in front of institutions and badly placed waste containers, calling the move “yet another daylight robbery”.

Telegraph adds that tourism expert Rumen Draganov also calls for better organization and attacks the “official subscription” system with metal signs and chains “that do not exist anywhere in Europe”. Both Kolarov and Draganov say the answer lies not in higher tariffs but in new infrastructure such as multi-storey and underground car parks, in line with practices in major European cities.

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Mediapool.bg writes that a scientific analysis identifies an illegal dump, 18 m high and 30–40 m long, occupying about two thirds of the riverbed above Elenite, as one of the main causes of the October flood in which four people die. Professor Stelian Dimitrov from Sofia University says his team uses laser scanning and simulation a day after the disaster and finds an illegal dump for solid waste; overbuilding and illegal construction in the complex are also key factors.

Mediapool.bg recalls that in 2017 Nessebar Municipality alerts the Burgas environment inspectorate about the dump and issues four fines to companies that do not clear it, but the firms appeal and the court cancels the mayor’s orders. “These depots exist up there and they are to blame for the flood,” Nessebar Mayor Nikolay Dimitrov said. The article notes that central authorities ignore the dump and focus on overbuilding and two illegal structures, while Environment Minister Manol Genov only confirms that the Burgas inspectorate decides not to require an environmental impact assessment for the Elenite projects.

Mediapool.bg cites a bTV report that more than a month after the disaster Elenite remains covered in mud and debris, with residents unable to return home. A homeowner says she reaches her flooded house only in boots, and still has no electricity, water or internet, despite paying BGN 1,200 a year in maintenance fees. The residential complex owner stays out of sight, and lawyer Vasil Glavchev says the company “has the same rights as the people who bought property from it”. The state of emergency lasts 14 days; Regional Governor Vladimir Krumov says State and municipal resources work throughout but cannot extend it further and key infrastructure such as cable power is restored. The Burgas health inspectorate reports no evidence of an epidemic and has ordered immediate cleaning. However, the bridge over the river and the collector leading to the beach remain blocked by debris, and it is still unclear who is responsible for clearing them or when the river will be unobstructed again.

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Dnevnik writes that the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency finds Sofia University’s medicine programme in breach of the law because of too few full-time habilitated lecturers and improperly structured departments. A 40-page report concludes that training for the master’s degree in medicine does not comply with the Higher Education Act and the Academic Staff Development Act, and the Accreditation Council now has to decide whether to grant or refuse programme accreditation.

Dnevnik notes that, while the faculty’s self-assessment claims 71.72% of lectures are delivered by full-time habilitated staff, the expert group measures 30.27% against a legal minimum of 70%. Of 337 lecturers, only 102 are on a main employment contract and 49 are habilitated; several departments fail to meet the legal minimum of seven members, key disciplines such as anatomy, paediatrics, epidemiology and infectious diseases lack sufficient habilitated staff, and there is no minimal research output in core profiles. If accreditation is refused (score below 4.00 on any of ten standards), the university has 12 months to address the weaknesses or must stop the programme, with the future of already enrolled students unclear. The report notes advanced facilities, state-of-the-art simulators, and a consistent third or fourth position in national medical rankings.