site.btaCaretaker Agriculture Minister Hristanov Says His Priority Will Be Restoring Trust in Ministry

In an interview with Darik Radio on Saturday, caretaker Agriculture and Food Minister Ivan Hristanov said he would work to restore public trust in the Ministry of Agriculture. He stressed that his main focus would be on combating corruption and increasing transparency in the work of the ministry and its subordinate structures.

According to him, the long-term goal is that within three months the Ministry of Agriculture and Food should become an institution enjoying “unprecedentedly high public trust”, free from suspicions of corrupt practices.

Hristanov said he has ordered a full audit of the registry system based on incoming reference numbers to determine whether documents have been unlawfully deleted. “Usually, in the final days of an administration, abuses begin. We must not forget that we have seen such things before – for example, the deletion of documents. That is why I requested a full report from the registry system by entry numbers, to check whether any documents have been erased,” the minister explained. He added that he expects an appropriate response from the prosecuting magistracy to signals of corruption and abuse so that those responsible face real penalties.

The caretaker minister underlined that he will rely on professionals within the system and that employees who demonstrate strong loyalty to the state will be able to work calmly and without pressure, in the public interest.

Because there is currently no functioning National Assembly, the ministry will focus on amendments to regulations in order to address systemic problems faced by farmers.

Hristanov also said that he will personally respond to reports submitted via social media, and reminded that organizing fair elections is among the key commitments of all ministries within the caretaker government.