site.btaMedia Review: January 30

ECONOMY  

Capital leads with a story about how the Bulgarian IT sector slams the brakes on hiring as AI and market pressures hit junior programmers hardest.

Technology companies in Bulgaria have sharply reduced hiring over the past two years, with junior programmers bearing the brunt of the slowdown. Firms most often cite rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) code-generation tools as the main reason, but industry observers point to a broader mix of structural and cyclical factors.

For more than a decade, Bulgaria’s IT sector was defined by an acute shortage of talent. Companies routinely hired candidates with minimal experience, sometimes after only a few months of basic training, while wages and job mobility rose rapidly. That model has now largely collapsed. Hiring has slowed to a trickle, and even experienced professionals report difficulties finding new positions.

The most common explanation offered by employers is that generative AI tools increasingly perform tasks once assigned to junior developers. While this argument is contested within the industry, it has had a tangible impact on recruitment. Positions in areas such as manual quality assurance, PHP development and data-related roles have declined sharply, while demand has grown for specialists in AI, data visualization and SAP technologies.

However, AI is far from the only factor. Much of Bulgaria’s software industry depends on Western European markets, many of which are currently stagnant. During the pandemic, companies hired aggressively in anticipation of sustained growth. By 2025, the 100 largest software firms in Bulgaria had reduced their total workforce for the first time in more than a decade, reflecting a broader correction after years of overexpansion.

Data from job platform DEV.BG illustrate the shift: at the peak of the hiring boom in early 2022, there were roughly six job openings per candidate. Within a year, the balance reversed, with applicants outnumbering vacancies. The number of candidates has remained high, while employers have become more cautious, focusing on efficiency and value rather than team size.

Industry representatives warn that the near-freeze on junior hiring poses long-term risks. Leaders of the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM) argue that excluding entry-level specialists today undermines the future supply of senior professionals. Entrepreneur Dobroslav Dimitrov describes the current situation as structural unemployment, where available candidates do not match employers’ evolving needs.

There is also debate over whether AI can truly replace programmers. Critics argue that while AI accelerates code writing, it cannot substitute for human decision-making, system design and responsibility in production environments. Others counter that AI’s productivity gains reduce the overall need for large engineering teams, making junior roles especially vulnerable.

Globally, similar trends are visible, particularly in the United States, where hundreds of thousands of tech workers have been laid off in recent years. While companies often attribute cuts to AI, analysts also cite excessive pandemic-era hiring, tax changes affecting research costs, and workforce shifts to lower-cost regions.

For Bulgaria, the outcome matters beyond the tech sector itself. Over the past decade, IT professionals have formed the backbone of the country’s emerging middle class, driving consumption, housing demand and related economic activity. As hiring slows and uncertainty grows, the effects are likely to ripple through the wider economy.

Whether the current downturn reflects a temporary market correction or a deeper transformation driven by AI remains unclear. What appears certain is that the era of uninterrupted optimism in Bulgaria’s IT industry has come to an end, leaving younger professionals facing the greatest uncertainty about their place in a technology-driven future.

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bTV: Following US sanctions imposed on Lukoil over Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the company announced that it has signed an agreement with a US firm to sell assets, including several companies in Bulgaria.

Asked whether these developments pose risks for Bulgaria in terms of fuel supplies or jobs, former energy minister Rumen Radev said there are no such risks. “On the contrary,” he said. “The risk would be for us if agreements were not reached.”

Radev said the war launched by Russia against Ukraine has no clear end, despite ongoing discussions about de-escalation and peace efforts. “Finding sustainable solutions is not easy in such a geopolitical environment. Against this background, what happens to a major producer such as the Burgas refinery is extremely important for Bulgaria,” he said.

Radev, who is chair of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, said the investment company involved has most likely already held talks with strategic partners related to refinery operations, fuel retail chains and extraction activities.

He noted that Lukoil has not only announced ongoing talks with other interested buyers, but has also clearly stated that the current agreement is conditional. “This means the deal must go through full due diligence by the prospective buyer and obtain the relevant approvals,” he said.

According to Radev, the process is unlikely to take less than four months even in the best-case scenario, and more likely around six months.

“The Burgas refinery is among the crown jewels of Lukoil’s assets. Outside Russian territory, it is their best refinery technologically, in terms of modernization and work organization,” Radev said. He added that he is convinced an investor such as Carlyle would approach the asset with a high level of professionalism and commitment.

Commenting on the period following Bulgaria’s accession to the euro area, Radev said there are no signs that the difficult month of January will be extended [when payments in both currencies are accepted by retailers]. “Some small businesses simply declared a January break in order to avoid dealing simultaneously with calculations and transactions in both euros and leva,” he said.

POLITICS

The media focus on Socialist leader Atanas Zafirov’s statement that he will not run in the upcoming snap parliamentary elections.

Duma: Atanas Zafirov, chair of the National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and of the BSP–United Left coalition, announced that he will not seek a seat in the next parliament. Speaking on Bulgarian National Television, Zafirov said he was “taking a step back” and would not participate in the upcoming parliamentary race.

He said the move was intended to open space for “new, young and capable people” who have not previously served as MPs, calling on both party leadership and rank-and-file members to support generational renewal. According to Zafirov, the response to this appeal will serve as a measure of the support he enjoys within the party.

Zafirov said he plans to focus fully on working with BSP’s local party structures and pledged that BSP–United Left would be represented in the next parliament and “defend the left in a dignified way.” He argued that opening candidate lists to people without prior involvement in state institutions would strengthen the party’s credibility.

Commenting on the party leadership’s priorities, Zafirov said BSP is working to restore its political standing, consolidate the left-wing political space, rebuild its international image and regain confidence in its ability to govern. He warned against attempts at the party congress to deny BSP’s participation in the current governing arrangement, describing such efforts as dangerous and potentially damaging in the long term.

According to Zafirov, distancing BSP from governance would reinforce the narrative that the party is incapable of managing state affairs. He added that there are no substantiated arguments or corruption scandals involving BSP ministers.

Regarding the timing of the party congress, Zafirov said he had insisted it be held immediately after elections, in order to assume political responsibility for the party’s performance. He argued that the party currently needs stability and time to prepare its program, noting that a congress is a heavy organizational and financial burden.

Zafirov said a post-election congress should define BSP’s direction in the new political configuration, rather than focusing solely on replacing the party leader.

Dnevnik and Mediapool also  cover the topic.

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BSP – United Left Floor Leader Dragomir Stoynev told bTV that he will not be part of the party’s candidate lists in the upcoming elections.

Stoynev said he was proud to have passed on his knowledge and experience to younger members of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and that the time had come to support a new generation rather than remain in frontline politics. At the same time, his remarks indicated that he does not support Krum Zarkov as a candidate for BSP leader.

Stoynev also criticized what he described as the current style of politics, saying that parliament had turned into a “TikTok studio,” where appearance and performance for the camera matter more than ideas and substance.

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Bulgarian National Radio: Democratic Bulgaria Co-Chair Bozhidar Bozhanov commented on the condition set by Continue the Change (CC) for running jointly in the elections, namely that candidate lists should not include individuals who have previously been expelled from the party or from the parliamentary group.

“Our coalition has a huge obligation to the protest movement and to voters. We must present the strongest possible programme and the strongest possible candidate lists to meet the expectations they set for us in December. That is why the coalition must function properly and work well. However, this cannot happen through ultimatums,” Bozhanov said.

Those affected by the condition would be Daniel Lorer and Yavor Bozhankov. CC has called for their exclusion from the parliamentary group, while Lorer has already been expelled from the party.  

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Limiting the number of voting sections in countries outside the European Union would reduce the number of votes cast from Turkiye, despite creating inconvenience for Bulgarian citizens in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, said Deyan Nikolov, chair of the Vazrazhdane party’s Sofia chapter, said in an interview on Nova TV.

Nikolov was commenting on amendments to the Election Code adopted at first reading on Thursday, proposed by his party. The changes envisage capping the number of voting sections outside the EU at 20.

According to Nikolov, Bulgaria has faced external interference in its elections from Turkiye for more than 30 years, with the issue of votes cast there long associated with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF). He said the proposed restriction is not unprecedented, noting that between 2016 and 2021 a similar limit of 35 voting sections was in place.

Nikolov acknowledged that the change would affect Bulgarian voters not only in Turkiye but also in other non-EU countries, particularly the United Kingdom, which currently has just over 100 voting sections, and the United States, where there are around 60. By contrast, Australia has five voting sections and Canada has 15.

He said Vazrazhdane understands the inconvenience this would cause to Bulgarians in the UK and the US, but argued that, in his words, “for every vote cast there, there are at least two votes from Turkiye.” He claimed that longer queues abroad would lead to a reduction of tens of thousands of votes cast in Turkiye.

Nikolov said Vazrazhdane’s goal is to uphold the Constitution, which states that political parties cannot be formed on an ethnic basis. He cited past election data to argue that lifting the restriction in November 2021 led to a sharp increase in votes cast in Turkey, while turnout in the UK declined and turnout in the US remained largely unchanged.

He also said there are legal interpretations allowing for a general rule on voting sections abroad, rather than country-specific restrictions, and argued that Vazrazhdane’s proposals cannot be successfully challenged in court.

Referring to the most recent elections, Nikolov said about 30,000 votes from Turkiye went to Ahmed Dogan’s Alliance for Rights and Freedoms and around 13,000 to MRF – New Beginning [the two are offshoots of the original Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the latter of which is headed by Delyan Peevski]. He described the vote from Turkiye as controlled and claimed it is influenced by the interests of the Turkish State. He suggested that future voting patterns could shift depending on which political formations are likely to enter parliament.

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Trud: GERB Chair Boyko Borissov will take part in the European People’s Party (EPP) Summit, to be held on January 30–31, 2026, in Zagreb, Croatia, the party’s press center said.

The forum will bring together leaders from Europe’s largest political family ahead of key decisions on the future of the European Union. Discussions are expected to focus on the EU’s future institutional architecture, the EPP’s strategic priorities, and the party’s work program for 2026, against the backdrop of growing geopolitical challenges, demographic pressures and the need for long-term political leadership.

During the summit, Borissov is expected to hold bilateral meetings with a number of European leaders. Talks will center on European security and stability, the EU’s role in a rapidly changing international environment, economic resilience, migration and demographic policies, as well as the coordination of shared European priorities.

According to GERB, Borissov’s participation underscores the party’s active role in European political dialogue and its commitment to promoting stable, pragmatic and long-term solutions for the future of the European Union.

JUSTICE

Mediapool: Bulgarian citizens deserve institutions that serve the public interest rather than political networks, Valerie Hayer, chair of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, said at a press conference in Sofia focused on the rule of law in Bulgaria.

Hayer pointed to a lack of judicial independence, pressure on media freedom and unresolved high-level corruption cases. A delegation from Renew Europe is visiting Bulgaria for meetings related to the rule of law. Hayer said that following the visit, the MEPs will prepare a report to be discussed in the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and submitted to the European Commission.

She stressed that the delegation was not in Bulgaria to lecture, but to stand alongside Bulgarian citizens, journalists, judges, mayors and civil society representatives who are calling for justice, accountability and equal application of the law. According to Hayer, defending the rule of law is an act of solidarity with the Bulgarian people, and European integration cannot be built on unresolved rule-of-law deficiencies.

Hayer also described as critical information received during the meetings that changes to the electoral process are being considered, including the possible discontinuation of machine voting.

Renew Europe MEP Irena Yoveva said that when institutions ignore rulings by the country’s highest court, including decisions regarding the mandate of the acting Prosecutor General, this represents an institutional clash rather than institutional independence, with citizens ultimately paying the price. She added that unresolved major corruption cases reflect a lack of political will rather than institutional capacity.

Veronika Cifrova of Renew Europe said journalists, particularly in smaller towns, often work under conditions of fear, intimidation or financial pressure. She warned that public media and regulators remain politically influenced, while necessary reforms are postponed, stressing that independent media are a prerequisite for a strong state and the rule of law.

SE BULGARIA FLOODS

Bulgarian National TV: A flooded bridge over the Arda River has once again cut off the only road connection to six villages in the southeastern Municipality of Ardino, the town hall announced on its Facebook page.

The Mayor of Ardino, engineer Izet Shaban, has once again declared a partial state of emergency due to heavy rainfall on January 26, 27, 28, and 29. The measure applies to part of the Municipality’s territory and affects six settlements: Rusal­sko, Lyubino, Latinka, Avramovo, Pesnopoy, and Spoluka.

The state of emergency was declared after the reinforced concrete bridge over the Arda River, located on a national road near the village of Kitnitsa, was flooded. Rising river levels have rendered the bridge impassable, once again leaving the affected villages without road access.

By order of the Mayor, the movement and presence of motor vehicles have been prohibited in designated critical sections in order to ensure public safety. The bridge is the only transport link for residents of the affected villages.

The news about the flood-stricken bridge is covered by the major media outlets.

CURIOSITY

“Fox Spotted in Yard of Central Sofia School,” reads 24 Chasa’s headline. 

A fox was spotted walking in the yard of the Sixth Primary School “Graf N. P. Ignatiev” in central Sofia.

The school is located on 6th of September Street, in the heart of the capital. The appearance of a wild animal so deep inside the city is considered unusual.

Footage shared on social media shows the fox roaming the schoolyard accompanied by two birds. In online comments, some residents say foxes are increasingly being seen on Sofia’s streets, while others interpret the animal’s presence as a sign of poor urban cleanliness.

The news about the fox that has reached central Sofia is also covered by Trud, which draws a parallel with a Bulgarian folk tale.