site.btaMedia Review: January 29

No single topic dominates the Bulgarian news media on Thursday.

POLITICS

Trud daily runs a commentary by constitutional law expert Prof. Plamen Kirov, arguing that Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Deputy Governor Andrey Gurov cannot serve as caretaker prime minister because of an ongoing legal controversy. Kirov notes that the case of Gurov dates back over two years, when the BNB Governing Council adopted Decision 340 on July 16, 2024, suspending his duties as deputy governor. The Council found that Gurov had not divested his participation in a commercial company within the legally allowed period, creating a statutory incompatibility. According to Kirov, such violations are common in local elections when officials fail to exit business activities on time, and both administrative and constitutional court practice treats them as grounds for termination of mandate. The BNB Council also determined that Gurov violated the law by joining two non-governmental boards without explicit authorization from the council, despite regulations allowing participation only with prior approval. Kirov criticized the Supreme Administrative Court for delaying the application of Bulgarian law by referring the matter to the European Court of Justice, a process now exceeding two years. Even though the National Assembly has not formally terminated Gurov’s mandate, he cannot assume the position of caretaker prime minister, Kirov says. The suspension of his duties and incontrovertible evidence of incompatibility make such an appointment unconstitutional. The expert emphasized that accepting the post while contesting the court decision would contravene the BNB Act and recalls the 2021 case of Kiril Petkov, whose appointment as caretaker prime minister was annulled by the Constitutional Court due to dual citizenship. Kirov warns against repeating similar legal errors.

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Nova TV’s morning programme featured a discussion with political analysts and journalists on the topic “In Search of a Caretaker Prime Minister: Who Could Organize Fair Elections?”. Political analyst Kristian Shkvarek argued that Bulgaria’s Constitution, created during a transitional period, has led to an absurd situation where it is unclear who governs the country and who is responsible. “The President says it is not him because he has only a limited pool of individuals to pick from. The parties claim it is not them because the caretaker prime minister is appointed by the President. It turns out the prime minister is someone for whom no party or political actor takes responsibility. As a result, we cannot ‘punish’ anyone at the elections for poorly organized voting,” Shkvarek said. According to him, regular governments should organize elections so that voters know whom to hold accountable if the process is poorly conducted. Journalist Vladimir Yonchev argued that the caretaker institution should remain, but the the list of potential caretaker prime ministers should be eliminated. He also warned that appointing Andrey Gurov as caretaker prime minister creates a strong political link between Continue the Change (CC) and President Rumen Radev. “No one believes that [President] Iliana Iotova acts independently of Radev,” Yonchev added, noting that this could affect CC’s election results. Former MEP Petar Vitanov emphasized the need to assess whether National Audit Office President Dimitar Glavchev or Andrey Gurov could organize fair elections, noting that Glavchev had previously failed in this role during his caretaker term. Shkvarek added that it would be “scandalous” for Glavchev to accept the position, given the Constitutional Court’s decision recognizing him as the only caretaker prime minister to have overseen demonstrably unfair elections.

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In an interview for 24 Chasa, former Justice Minister and former ranking member of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), Krum Zarkov, said he will run for chair of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), arguing that the party needs not only a change of leadership but also “a new spirit” in order to survive. Zarkov described the upcoming BSP congress as existential and associated himself with calls for a radical shift in direction, adding that a renewed BSP could take part in a broader struggle alongside a potential political project of former president (2017-2026) Rumen Radev against what he termed the “oligarchic model.” Commenting on the political situation, Zarkov said the outgoing National Assembly should urgently halt what he called its “chaotic and scandal-ridden” legislative activity and focus on organizing early elections. He expressed the view that no large-scale constitutional changes would be useful if undertaken by the current parliament, while noting that the appointment of a caretaker cabinet is a prerequisite for setting an election date, likely in the second half of April. Zarkov argued that the previous government collapsed because “from its first day it was not itself,” saying it publicly declared one set of goals while pursuing another and ultimately served the interests of a single political figure. He criticized BSP’s participation in the cabinet and warned that without new leadership and clear positioning, the party risks further decline, stressing that the absence of a strong left in politics harms not only party members but democracy as a whole.

Zarkov was also speaking on Bulgarian National Television’s (BNT) morning programme, stating: “I am committed to entering the battle for BSP chair. Radical change is one of the visions emerging in the party, not just a reshuffle or replacing one person with another, but a complete reassessment of BSP’s actions, its purpose, and its role for Bulgarian citizens. I see many people sharing this vision, and I am their candidate”. Zarkov argued that Atanas Zafirov cannot continue as party chair: “If BSP had maintained its position in recent years, especially the last one, President Rumen Radev would not need to intervene in party politics to fight oligarchy.” He also clarified that Radev will not “take over” BSP. “The party’s future will depend on BSP’s own actions and responsibility. It has a path forward, with or without Radev’s involvement in politics. His return may be beneficial, as it helps break the five-year cycle of elections without progress,” Zarkov said.

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Duma publishes an interview with BSP National Council member Alexander Simov, who said that GERB leader Boyko Borissov has recently had an unusually high number of media appearances, reminiscent of his early years as Interior Ministry chief secretary. Simov argued that public discussion has focused more on the behaviour of interviewers than on Borissov himself, who continues to project a familiar self-image, as a builder of highways, a driver of higher living standards, and a work-obsessed figure who lives almost like a monk, moving solely between home and office. He said this image is deeply ingrained and almost untouchable, and that attempts to see past it are largely futile. What is new, according to Simov, is Borissov’s attempt to place responsibility for the country’s problems onto others while constructing a new narrative for himself: that of a political victim of dark forces, yet a tireless guardian concerned with Bulgaria’s fate, rather than someone primarily focused on winning new votes.

ECONOMY

Duma’s front-page story focuses on the EU–India free trade agreement and Bulgaria’s agricultural safeguards, reporting that he European Commission (EC) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the deal after nearly two decades of negotiations. The daily cites EC President Ursula von der Leyen, who said that the agreement will bring immediate benefits to European businesses and citizens, and Bulgarian producers are expected to benefit as part of the single market.  At the same time, Bulgaria’s position on the Mercosur trade agreement has shifted. While Agriculture Minister Georgi Tahov initially said that the deal would not harm domestic farming, Bulgaria has requested protective clauses at the EU Council on Agriculture and Fisheries in Brussels to safeguard its agricultural sector.

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Mediapool.bg reports that the Sofia airport concessionaire, SOF Connect, is delaying its decision on the payment of the concession fee for 2026. The company’s response to Mediapool indicates that, in the absence of a stable government and budget, it will likely wait for the upcoming snap parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government before continuing negotiations on the 35-year concession. SOF Connect secured the concession in April 2021, committing to transform Sofia Airport into the region’s first five-star airport and to build a new terminal, with an upfront payment of BGN 660 million. Shortly after, an annex exempted the company from paying concession royalties for the first ten years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, deferring these payments to the final ten years of the concession, after 2046. Negotiations for 2026 payments have stalled. The state requested around EUR 40 million, while the concessionaire offered EUR 9 million and demanded compensation of EUR 70–80 million for runway repairs. Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov proposed a schedule for full payment of the 2025 fee (EUR 40 million) in two installments in 2026, without altering the deferred payments for the first four years. SOF Connect stated it is analyzing the proposal and preparing a response. Investment implementation remains under scrutiny. Despite promises of EUR 608 million in investments, progress is uneven: Terminal 2 has been partially renovated, Terminal 1 remains largely unchanged, and the new parking facility opened two years late amid public criticism over rates. Security system upgrades have been insufficient, with incidents reported in 2022 and 2025. The new Terminal 3, slated for completion by 2030, still has no selected contractor.

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Speaking on Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Gabriela Rumenova of the Nie Potrebitelite (We the Consumers) platform warned that fake websites created with artificial intelligence are increasingly being used to scam shoppers. “Every January sees sales and price adjustments. Currently, we are in the period of double price labeling and dual currency display, which lasts until the end of the month. Some unscrupulous sellers—and sometimes people I wouldn’t even call sellers—take advantage of this to commit fraud,” Rumenova explained. There were several cases of websites entirely generated by AI, including models and clothing items that do not exist, she added. Despite warnings, some consumers still attempted to buy from these sites, often losing their money. Rumenova noted that such sites are frequently hosted in third countries. She outlined how to shop safely online and highlighted common unfair commercial practices. These include fictitious discounts, unclear terms for using promotions, and the confusing presentation of prices in different currencies. Other tactics involve manipulative use of colors, fonts, and sizes to influence purchasing decisions. Rumenova advised checking product labels and monitoring what is scanned at the checkout. She also reminded viewers that statutory warranty on goods lasts two years, regardless of what is written in the warranty card, and that consumers should retain receipts to prove the purchase date and seller in case of disputes.

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In an interview for BNR, Education Trade Union President Julian Petrov criticized the state of Bulgarian schools. Petrov described schools as arenas dominated by aggression, where young teachers quickly burn out and leave the profession. He highlighted the low salaries of Bulgarian teachers, announcing that the Union will push for a 10–15% salary increase in the new budget, compared to the current proposal of 5% to compensate for inflation. “Bulgarian teachers earn catastrophically low salaries for the responsibilities they bear,” Petrov said. He warned that failure to meet teachers’ demands could lead to protests or disruptions in the academic calendar. 

HEALTHCARE

24 Chasa daily’s front-page headline reads “Everyone Can Now Provide Emergency Aid to a Person with Cardiac Arrest,” reporting that Bulgarian lawmakers unanimously adopted on Wednesday amendments to the Health Act allowing any bystander to provide first aid with an automated external defibrillator (AED) in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, even without medical training. The changes remove previously heavy fines, ranging from BGN 5,000 to 10,000 for people performing medical activities without the required qualification, rising to BGN 10,000–20,000 for repeat violations. The aim is to make the most of the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives, as statistics show that defibrillation within three to five minutes can increase survival chances to 50–70%. The MPs agreed that the locations of the devices will be set by a Health Ministry ordinance, that priority in providing aid should be given to trained individuals if present, and that anyone offering assistance must immediately call 112. In Sofia, 24 defibrillators have been installed in metro stations and municipal hospitals. The first four devices were placed in key metro stations in 2022 following a decision by the Municipal Council. In 2023, the council approved the purchase of 20 additional devices, which were installed in municipal hospitals, high-traffic public areas and busy metro stations. The proposals, tabled by parliamentary Health Committee Chair Kostadin Angelov of GERB and Dr. Alexander Simidchiev of Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria, were adopted without a single vote against. The driving force behind the amendments is leading interventional cardiologist and head of the Bulgarian Resuscitation Council, Prof. Ivo Petrov. Commenting the changes, Petrov said that rapid access to defibrillators in public places doubles the number of lives saved. He noted that the removal of legal liability is a key step because modern automated external defibrillators provide voice guidance and embedded artificial intelligence that decides whether a shock is needed, making harmful mistakes practically impossible. According to him, wider public training remains essential to overcome fear among bystanders. Petrov also suggested the creation of a national electronic registry and mobile application with GPS navigation to direct witnesses to the nearest defibrillator, a system already used in several developed countries.

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Trud reports that physicians are prescribing antibiotics for influenza “to be on the safe side,” despite experts emphasizing that antiviral treatment is the effective measure against the virus. Infectious disease and Ear, Nose and Throat specialists note that many patients develop complications such as bacterial pneumonia only after the seventh or eighth day of infection, and only a minority require antibiotics. The Chief State Health Inspector, Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev, forecasts a peak of the epidemic next week, with the AH3N1 strain accounting for about 90% of cases. Experts warn of a possible second wave later in the season caused by influenza B. Laboratory testing in Sofia shows a high circulation of the virus, with about one in three rapid tests returning positive results. Early administration of antiviral medication is highlighted as critical to reducing severity and limiting transmission. Prof. Iva Hristova, Director of the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, stated that a flu epidemic has been officially declared in two regions – Burgas and Plovdiv – while four additional regions, Pleven, Targovishte, Montana, and Sliven, are approaching epidemic levels. Sofia Province and Veliko Tarnovo continue to report persistently high incidence. Decisions on declaring epidemics and implementing measures are made regionally to ensure effectiveness. Doctors note that children are most affected by the current flu wave, while many adults self-medicate and avoid clinics, relying on home remedies and symptomatic treatments.

On BNT’s morning programme, Dr. Aleksandar Kolevski, head of the Microbiology Laboratory at Aleksandrovska University Hospital, also addressed the issue. According to him, Bulgaria ranks among the EU countries with the highest levels of antibiotic resistance, a worrying trend driven by widespread, often unnecessary use of antibiotics. Kolevski said that the goal of the National Programme for Action Against Antibiotic Resistance is to slow the development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. "From the moment penicillin was first used, bacteria began developing resistance to antibiotics. It is a drug with a known endpoint of effectiveness," he explained. Kolevski emphasized that the initiative is well-conceived and will help curb uncontrolled antibiotic use. The first step has already been taken: antibiotics are now only dispensed via electronic prescription. He stressed that rapid diagnostic tests are essential to limit unnecessary prescriptions. "It is crucial to distinguish viral from bacterial infections, because viral infections are not treated with antibiotics, except for influenza A and B, which have a special treatment administered within 24 hours. Diagnosis is made via a rapid test using a nasopharyngeal swab. It takes 20 minutes to determine if a patient has influenza A, B, or another viral infection," he added.