site.btaMedia Review: November 24

VARNA MAYOR CASE

24 Chasa has an article on the case of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev who is going to trial for corruption, bribery and malfeasance in office - in what he and his supporters say is a politically-motivated case. The story says that he remains mayor for now after receiving support from his own party (Continue the Change) as well as from GERB. This follows a decision by the Municipal Election Commission (MEC) on Sunday to postpone a resolution on his removal from office over prolonged and unjustified absence from his workplace. While the Commission was meeting, residents of Varna gathered in protest in support their mayor.

24 Chasa pointed out that Kotsev was arrested in an anti-corruption operation on 8 July as part of an investigation into corruption allegations. Since then, he has been held in custody in Sofia, with the Sofia courts repeatedly refusing to release him. After formal charges were brought, the case was transferred to Varna. Since Kotsev’s arrest, the city has been run by his deputies acting on his authorization, and since 12 November he has been performing his duties from custody.

According to 24 Chasa, the Varna court handling the case is expected to hold a hearing during the current week on whether Kotsev should remain in detention, given that the investigation has been completed and the case has entered the court phase. A meeting of the municipal election commission was convened after the end of the working day on Friday, which angered CC-DB, who accused GERB of seeking an administrative advantage ahead of possible new elections.

On Saturday at midday, 24 Chasa reported that GERB leader Boyko Borissov had instructed the party’s members on the Commission to vote against Kotsev’s removal. The reason, the daily writes, is that Borissov does not want administrative victories, and without his members’ votes the required 18 votes cannot be secured. This was later confirmed officially by the party.

***

Mediapool.bg also reported on developments in the Kotsev case, writing that the Varna MEC did not decide on the mayor’s removal and has requested data from the municipality regarding his absences. With 20 votes in favour and 7 against, the Commission decided to require additional documents from the municipality to clarify the facts and circumstances surrounding the case.

Mediapool.bg cites MEC Chair Velin Zhekov, who says that a decision on whether Kotsev will be removed will be taken after the City Hall submits the requested information and the Commission discusses the matter. Mayor Blagomir Kotsev’s lawyer, Marin Pantov, also attended the meeting. He said that the provision of the Local Self-Government and Local Administration Act focuses on unjustified absence rather than the type of leave. In the mayor’s case, two roles, employer and employee, are combined in one person, the lawyer noted. According to him, the question is not what kind of leave is involved, but whether the absence is justified and whether detention constitutes justified absence. Pantov added that the Act contains an explicit provision for removing a mayor only if there is an effective sentence.

***

Dnevnik also reports on developments in the Kotsev case, noting that Sunday’s decision followed the receipt of an additional submission to the complaint filed earlier by former municipal employee Bilyana Yakova. She claims that Kotsev unlawfully took leave while in detention and asks MEC to terminate his mandate on this basis.

According to the outlet, the latest submission alleges that Kotsev used an additional ten days of leave. The Commission decided to request information from the Varna municipal administration regarding this leave, after which a new meeting will be convened. Today’s session began shortly after 10 a.m. at the Palace of Culture and Sports, which was surrounded by hundreds of protesters.

During the meeting, the Commission confirmed that it is examining the supplementary complaint, which requires the establishment of new facts and circumstances, and that today’s session was convened specifically for this purpose.

BUDGET 2026

In its morning programme, bTV featured a discussion with economist Lyuboslav Kostov from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, and Dobrin Ivanov, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Industrial Association. Both employers and syndicates said they hope for changes to the draft budget between first and second reading. Lyuboslav Kostov noted that Monday’s protest had originally been scheduled for November 28 but was moved forward to allow for action before the conclusive voting on the 2026 budgets. "No, the authorities did not convince us that this is the only possible way to spend our money. There was no change in the content of the budget, as it was voted exactly as submitted. And that is why our position remains unchanged. In the meantime, we made proposals because we do not believe this is the only possible budget. We proposed measures that would reduce expenditure by BGN 1.2 billion so as to offset the increase in the tax and social security burden," he said. Dobrin Ivanov said that he hopes that Parliament will take this into consideration and that the changes will be made between the first and second reading.

***

The draft budget was also the focus of a bTV interview with former agriculture minister and long-time Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) member Mehmed Dikme, who said the proposal does not meet expectations, noting the absence of reforms and describing the state as "pouring money into a bottomless system". He criticized the proposed budget, warning of an economic slowdown and a rise in unemployment.

bTV said that the 2026 state budget draft continues to generate division, not only between the government and the opposition but also within the ruling majority itself. While the majority defends the document, many economic analysts and business representatives express concerns.

According to Dikme, the new tax burdens and the lack of a clear strategy for key sectors will lead to a slowdown in economic growth, an increase in unemployment, and lower revenue collection than the government expects.

***

In its morning programme, Nova TV presented comments on Budget 2026 by Vasil Velev, Chair of the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, who said that tension over the draft budget is high among enterprises and among local, sectoral and regional employer organizations, prompting calls for protest. "The national employer organizations will either lead this protest or become unnecessary, because this budget is seen as extremely unfair, disadvantageous to 2 million workers in the real sector, employees and specialists," Velev stated. Economist Vasil Karaivanov added that "the protest on the street is not the most serious one. The protest has already begun, with the withdrawal of deposits, cash assets and capital leaving Bulgaria. Businesses are moving their money abroad."

ENERGY SECTOR

Capital reports that Greece’s PPC Group, which operates in Bulgaria, plans investments of EUR 10.1 billion in renewables, flexible generation, grid expansion and customer services in the coming years, aiming to lead the energy transition in Southeast Europe. The analysis noted that the plans will affect Bulgaria, where new projects and network reinforcement are urgently needed amid rapid growth in renewable and hybrid installations. In the shorter term, Bulgaria will receive EUR 25 million in grant funding under the EEA Financial Mechanism until 2028 for energy communities, connectivity and studies for new pumped-storage plants, with national co-financing of EUR 4.1 million. The first energy community in Sofia’s Vitosha District is progressing, with rising interest from citizens and companies, and other districts are also considering similar projects.

Capital also reviews the financial performance of energy companies in 2024, noting that National Economic Council, Kozloduy NPP and Bulgargaz remain among the leaders in Bulgaria's Top 100 ranking but report lower turnover. The publication said that Bulgaria must break the status quo to avoid becoming a net importer of cheap electricity.

Mini Maritsa-Iztok’s losses have doubled year-on-year, exceeding BGN 200 million in the third quarter of 2025, while wage costs remain unchanged despite fewer employees. The publication added that the United States has paved the way for Lukoil to sell its international business by extending its sanctions derogation.

***

In an interview for BNT Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev commented on the US sanctions against Lukoil. Regarding the measures imposed on Lukoil and Rosneft, Georgiev said that the Kremlin is trying to defend its political, social and economic interests.

"The sanctions imposed on Lukoil and Rosneft sent a clear message. We do not wish to feed the regime in Moscow, and we believe that everything that will weaken Russia’s ability to wage this senseless war must be done. Bulgaria reacted very quickly and adequately in this situation, and the government took the only possible course of action," he noted.

He said that, together with the parliamentary majority, legislative changes were adopted to expand the powers of the special administrator in line with OFAC expectations, paving the way toward securing the necessary derogation. "This happened extremely swiftly. There are still European countries affected by the sanctions which have not yet obtained such an exemption. Bulgaria did it in about two weeks," Georgiev said.

He strongly welcomed the efforts of President Trump, the US administration and European partners to find a lasting and sustainable peace in Ukraine. “Nothing about Ukraine can be decided without Ukraine. Whatever plans or compromises are considered, the Ukrainian side must have the final word,” he stated.

Georgiev added that the US President’s statements made it clear that the plan is not final and will be subject to further negotiations, as evidenced by the meeting in Geneva. According to him, any compromise is determined by Ukraine, which alone knows the limits and substance of a possible agreement.

***

In an interview on Bulgarian National Radio, Anton Ivanov from the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum said he is confident that household consumers will continue receiving compensation in 2026 as well. "Market liberalization will be implemented when the money runs out," he noted, but refrained from giving a forecast about the amount. According to him, the liberalization process in Bulgaria is unfolding as a gradual price alignment of different consumer groups with the levels on the electricity market. "This is how it happened with household consumers. The fact that they are not explicitly mentioned in this budget is due to the fact that the size of the compensation is set mid-year by a decision of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission."

Ivanov said that the compensation for business consumers, which had previously been substantial, has already been significantly reduced. Currently, only large energy consumers receive support. For the rest, compensation would be triggered only if electricity market prices reach a high threshold that is unlikely to be met.

Certain groups on the free market and household consumers will receive compensation, he sums up. The reform intended to identify energy-poor consumers, who should receive the main share of support, has still not been implemented, Ivanov pointed out.

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

In an interview with BNR, former vice president of the European Investment Bank Lilyana Pavlova commented that Bulgaria will not be required to bail out eurozone countries experiencing difficulties. "The treaties we sign and the operating rules state very clearly that no country pays the debt of another. We participate with a contribution proportional to our GDP. The funds are managed by the Stability Mechanism and, in times of crisis, lending and support are provided to the respective economy, but in no way does this create a risk for the economies of eurozone member states," Pavlova said.

The euro is a protective mechanism, she noted. "It provides security and protection for citizens’ savings." She added that introducing the euro will also reduce business costs by eliminating currency exchange expenses. 

***

Dnevnik.bg writes about the changing wine industry picture in Bulgaria. Titled "Geography of the Heat: Wine Producers Start Planting Olive Trees and Even Bananas", the story reports that climate change, which is bringing increasingly hotter summers to Bulgaria and further north, is already reshaping the geography of grape varieties grown in the country, according to vine-growers and winemakers. Red varieties are becoming more suitable for cultivation in northern Bulgaria, while the south are becoming too hot. 

Meanwhile, consumers in Bulgaria, who have traditionally preferred red wines, are now buying predominantly white ones. "Last year, for the first time, we ran out of white wine as early as December," a wine maker in a small family winery is quoted as saying. Another producer invites customers to try olive oil, and a third one bananas, as vine-growers expand their range with Mediterranean crops.

***

24 Chasa published an interview with Sofia Deputy Mayor for Transport and Urban Mobility Viktor Chaushev, who says that the use of private cars in the capital will become increasingly expensive, with parking revenue to be directed to the neighbourhoods. According to him, paid parking zones will be expanded gradually.

24 Chasa noted that around 60% of revenue from parking fees will be earmarked for investments in the neighbourhoods where the zones apply, with annual proceeds expected to reach BGN 110 million. Chaushev adds that parking spaces allocated to institutions will likely be reduced. He also says that no new parking facilities have been built since the start of the current term due to lack of funding, but the planned parking reform will secure targeted resources for such projects.

***

In its article "Michelin Sends Culinary Audit to Sofia," Segа reports that the Bulgarian capital may enter the Michelin selection, the world’s most prestigious restaurant rating system. The daily noted that the information comes from a Facebook post by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev. According to him, Michelin has proposed that Sofia undergo a culinary audit, an independent assessment. The mayor describes this as recognition of the city’s potential and thanks the Visit Sofia team for their consistent work, which made the start of the process possible.

***

Segа also reported that the battle over the school education law has reached a critical stage, noting that the proposed ban on mobile phones in classrooms still needs to be adjusted. The daily writes that serious and lengthy debates are expected during the second reading of the Preschool and School Education Act.

According to the outlet, MPs from all parties have submitted dozens of amendments to the changes proposed by the Ministry of Education, as shown on Parliament’s website. A total of 18 bills amending the Act have been tabled, most of which cover a broad range of issues, including teacher evaluation, the ban on mobile phones in class, and the introduction of a new subject on religion and virtues. Sega noted that tensions are expected to run high, given that more than 8,400 people have submitted a petition to Parliament opposing the amendments.