site.btaMedia Review: March 12

POLITICS

Mediapool features an article on Generation Z’s role in Bulgaria’s political scene three months after the protests that led to the fall of the government and ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. The publication highlights that the caretaker Prime Minister’s first meeting after taking office was with young protesters, while some activists are expected to join the candidate lists of Continue the Change. Commentators cited by Mediapool say the youth vote in Bulgaria has so far lacked a clear ideological orientation and often shifts support toward new political formations. Data from a survey by Gallup International Balkan and the National Youth Forum indicate that the party There Is Such a People attracts the largest share of young voters, followed by MRF – New Beginning and Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria. Representatives of several youth initiatives and student organizations interviewed by the outlet say their protests initially focused on issues such as student fees, healthcare conditions and living standards but later broadened into criticism of what they describe as a longstanding model of governance associated with corruption and political dependence. Asked about Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev’s political ambitions, the interviewees express mixed views: some say his high public approval could make him a potential alternative in a fragmented political environment, while others remain skeptical, arguing that he has not clearly distanced himself from the governance model criticized during the protests and questioning whether his project would bring genuine political change. They add that the main priority ahead of the elections should be ensuring fair voting and higher turnout among young voters.

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All media outlets cover a clash between MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski and Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev.

An article in the Telegraph daily shows both sides. Peevski alleged that Terziev and municipal councilors from Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria and Save Sofia are preparing a scheme to acquire more than 20 state-owned properties in the capital, described as attractive plots in expensive districts with a total area exceeding 1,300 decares. He also claimed the properties were to be transferred by the caretaker Government and accused Terziev of ineffective and harmful governance, saying Sofia has faced worsening problems with infrastructure, air quality, transport and shortages of childcare facilities. He said the properties constitute a national resource and announced that his parliamentary group would propose a parliamentary moratorium on the transfer of state-owned properties by the caretaker Cabinet. Terziev rejected the accusations in a Facebook post, saying the municipality’s intention is to use the sites for public needs such as kindergartens, parks and cultural spaces rather than leaving them unused, and expressed hope that municipal councilors would support the proposals aimed at expanding public infrastructure in the city. He added that he does not expect someone who "has not built anything worthwhile in his life" to understand the Municipality's motives.

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On Nova Television’s morning show, caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov said ensuring the fairness and transparency of the election process has become a priority for his Ministry, warning that vulnerable people may be pressured to vote in a certain way through their dependence on social services. Ademov said such practices are not exaggerated and cited cases in which access to programmes such as the “Warm Lunch” initiative or personal assistance services could allegedly be used to influence voters, stressing that “in the 21st century a person’s livelihood cannot depend on how they vote.” He said the Ministry would investigate reported cases, including one in the Blagoevgrad Region, and would apply zero tolerance if social policy instruments are misused for political purposes. Commenting on rising fuel prices, Ademov said the State currently has limited capacity to support vulnerable groups due to the absence of an adopted State Budget, adding that possible measures would depend on future financial decisions and EU-level instruments. He also announced that the distribution of food aid packages under a European programme for the most vulnerable households would begin next week, covering around 531,000 households and to be carried out by the Bulgarian Red Cross, stressing that such assistance should not be used for political campaigning ahead of the elections.

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On bTV's morning show, caretaker Agriculture Minister Ivan Hristanov discussed alleged corruption schemes, fuel price concerns, and administrative reforms. Hristanov said he had filed signals with the authorities regarding activities in waste management and consultancy contracts with the Food Safety Agency, citing unexplained overpayments. He emphasized the need to ensure fuel supplies for agricultural machinery ahead of the sowing season, warning that disruptions could threaten food production and exports. Hristanov also criticized leaks of sensitive information, which he said alert individuals involved in wrongdoing. Regarding media attacks claiming he compromises national security, he called them an unprecedented form of blackmail, insisting that he and his team are placing competent and honest officials to serve Bulgaria effectively.

JUDICIARY

On bTV’s morning show, former justice minister Anton Stankov and lawyer and former investigator Lyudmil Rangelov commented on renewed tensions surrounding the prosecution service after the Prosecutors Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) rejected caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov’s proposal to replace the acting Prosecutor General, arguing that the Minister lacks the authority to initiate such a procedure. Stankov said the Minister could in principle make such a proposal but noted that recent amendments to the Judicial System Act are unclear and open to conflicting interpretations, adding that while the SJC has the authority to appoint the prosecutor general and could therefore replace an acting one, the legal framework creates ambiguity. He nevertheless welcomed the Minister’s attempt to address the issue, saying that even seemingly unrealistic efforts could help initiate institutional debate. Rangelov, for his part, described the Minister’s move as politically motivated but legally unsound, arguing that the options for replacing an acting prosecutor general are limited and lie either with the Prosecutors Chamber itself or with the acting prosecutor general choosing to step down. He added that even a future ruling by the Constitutional Court on the disputed provisions governing the six-month mandate of an acting prosecutor general would not automatically resolve the situation.

On Bulgarian National Television’s morning show, political scientist Prof. Rumyana Kolarova and journalists Ruzha Raycheva and Veselin Stoynev discussed the same topic. Kolarova said such a move would have been an easy institutional solution but argued that it was unrealistic to expect the prosecution itself to take what would have been a losing step, adding that the Justice Minister’s initiative nevertheless highlighted what she described as a dysfunctional situation in the system and demonstrated a constitutionally entrenched institutional weakness. Raycheva said the development shows that acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov remains effectively untouchable at his position and argued that any meaningful judicial reform can only be achieved through parliamentary action, depending on the political balance after the upcoming elections and the possibility of forming a majority capable of replacing the Supreme Judicial Council. She also suggested that future parliamentary alignments could create unexpected political combinations. Stoynev, for his part, criticized the legal debate surrounding the issue, saying it would be difficult to explain to the public how an acting prosecutor general could remain in the post indefinitely, and described the situation as an example of institutional paralysis.

MIDDLE EAST SITUATION'S EFFECTS ON BULGARIA

24 Chasa’s front-page story, titled “Air Defence Takes Positions: Army Trains to Shoot Down Cruise Missiles,” addresses the state of Bulgaria’s air defence in connection with the conflict in the Middle East. According to the publication, Bulgaria’s air defence units have been deployed to combat positions and are conducting drills to counter cruise missiles that could potentially be used in an attack against the country. The daily describes that the move is part of increased combat readiness ordered after Iran launched a missile toward Turkiye and that most of the positions taken up by Bulgarian air defence units are located along the Black Sea coast. Bulgaria’s air defence relies primarily on S-300 missile systems, which remain effective against cruise missiles. For medium- and short-range targets, the country also operates S-125 and S-75 missile systems, both of Soviet origin. In 2024, Bulgaria ordered new German-made IRIS-T air defence systems, which are expected to arrive later in 2026, 24 Chasa explains. The country is also covered by NATO’s missile defence shield, whose main regional base is located in Romania. In addition, Patriot batteries operated by NATO allies are stationed in Turkiye, while Greece has deployed a Patriot battery near the Bulgarian border to reinforce Bulgaria’s air defence, the articles concludes.

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Lyubomir Datsov, member of the Fiscal Council of Bulgaria and former deputy finance minister, told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) that Bulgaria’s economy still has to adapt to the effects of the conflict in the Middle East, particularly regarding fuel and electricity prices. Datsov argued that in the past three years no effective mechanism has been created to support companies affected by high electricity prices in a way that would encourage restructuring of energy-intensive industries. Instead, assistance continues to be distributed uniformly, which he described as harmful. Datsov said that global oil prices have fluctuated significantly, at one point exceeding USD 100 per barrel before falling to around USD 70-80. According to him, even with a roughly 25% increase compared with earlier base prices, the impact on Bulgaria’s budget would be relatively limited. The greater fiscal challenge, he said, stems from deficit-driven policies rather than developments on oil markets. Datsov estimated that the effect on inflation could range between 0.4% and 1%. He told BNR that Bulgaria has reserves that could cushion the impact of higher prices for two to three months if the conflict continues. In his view, additional support measures for households or the economy are unnecessary, and government assistance should be targeted only at specific sectors or vulnerable consumers.

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On Bulgarian National Television’s morning show, Podkrepa Confederation of Labour President Dimitar Manolov commented on the risks of rising energy prices amid the war and broader economic pressures, as well as ongoing social tensions related to wages and pensions. Manolov said the caretaker Government appears to view its mandate as temporary and may therefore avoid taking bolder economic measures, referring to recent statements by the caretaker Finance Minister that no immediate steps would be taken to curb rising fuel prices. According to the trade union leader, mechanisms exist that could mitigate inflationary pressure without direct financial support for the most vulnerable groups if financial flows are managed differently. He also commented on the recently adopted pension reform affecting the second and third pillars of the pension system, saying Podkrepa had submitted numerous proposals for amendments that were not taken into account. Manolov criticized what he described as longstanding deductions applied to pension contributions, arguing that their purpose remains unclear and that participants in the system have been disadvantaged since its introduction, and also expressed concern that people could be allocated to pension funds without sufficient choice or consultation.

ECONOMY

In an interview with BNR, Konstantin Gospodinov, regional representative of the Forest Stewardship Council and Executive Director of FSC Bulgaria, said the visit is recognition of the work carried out by Bulgarian partners. He said that the aim of the meetings is to outline priorities for the year ahead in the field of sustainable forest management. Gospodinov explained that currently nearly 50% of Bulgaria’s forests are certified. “Certification guarantees that timber comes from forests that are managed sustainably and responsibly, in line with the ecological and social functions of forests and in a way that is also economically viable for businesses. Certification is verified by a third party, an independent certification body. It is also a mechanism that helps companies working with products derived from sustainably managed forests promote them as products that do not come from deforested areas, that workers’ rights are respected, and that all environmental functions of these forests are preserved and managed in a sustainable way,” he said. According to Gospodinov, forest fires are a major issue requiring a long-term strategy. He warned that the problem is growing not only in Bulgaria but across forests in the wider region. “Forests with preserved ecological functions are more resilient and better protected against such threats. However, this alone is not sufficient – a state policy working in this direction is also necessary. The overall concept of combating forest fires requires more comprehensive coordination at the national level,” he stressed.

Bulgarian National Radio reports on the visit to Sofia on March 12-13 by Claire Coleman, Regional Director for Europe at the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Fernando Rodriguez, Programme Manager for European Network Development. During their visit, they are scheduled to meet representatives of the Bulgarian Agriculture Ministry and the Executive Forests Agency to jointly plan priorities and address challenges related to the development of forest certification and sustainable forest management in Bulgaria.

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Trud quotes Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) Chair Dimitar Belelievev ‘s statement during an energy forum that the development of “prosumers” — households and businesses that both produce and consume energy — remains significantly underdeveloped in Bulgaria and should become a priority for the country’s energy policy. He said the focus should shift toward small and medium-sized renewable energy projects rather than large-scale power plants. He argued that prosumers represent a missed opportunity for strengthening the stability of the energy system, noting that although Bulgaria ranks among the leading countries in Europe in terms of renewable energy installations per capita, the share of prosumers remains very low. According to Belelievev, distributed generation could improve the resilience and management of the electricity grid at the micro level. He added that despite the country’s favorable geographic location and relatively developed grid infrastructure, Bulgaria is still not ready to attract large-scale foreign investment in data centers.

PETROHAN CASE

On Nova Television’s morning show, journalist Ivan Kanchev commented on the latest developments in the investigation into the so-called Petrohan–Okolchitsa case, in which six people died, following a briefing by the prosecution service that provided new details but did not allow questions from reporters. Kanchev said some of the information presented appeared to concern peripheral aspects rather than the mechanism of the crime, noting that investigators have ordered extensive forensic examinations, including psychiatric, psychological and sexological analyses, which in his view suggests that the motive behind the deaths has not yet been clearly established. He also pointed out that the prosecution service had disclosed data on nearly BGN 300,000 in donations received over four years by a nongovernmental organization linked to Ivaylo Kalushev and had lifted bank secrecy on 44 accounts to trace financial flows, but added that it remains unclear to whom those accounts belong. Kanchev further noted unanswered questions regarding audio recordings previously released by police and the reasons why two separate pre-trial proceedings — related to the incidents near Petrohan Hut and Okolchitsa Peak — were initially launched in different jurisdictions before being combined. Meanwhile, Ralitsa Asenova, the mother of Nikolay Zlatkov who was found dead near Okolchitsa, questioned forensic details of the case and announced a protest in Sofia demanding clarity about the circumstances of her son’s death.

HEALTH

24 Chasa publishes a lead interview with paediatrician Blagomir Zdravkov, who has been announced as the winner of a competition to head the new St Anastasia Children's Hospital in Burgas. Zdravkov highlights that children’s healthcare in Bulgaria depends largely on political decisions, especially when such decisions are delayed or not taken at all. He outlines his vision for developing the facility as a strategic medical centre for Eastern and Southeastern Bulgaria. According to him, the hospital’s main priorities should include building a highly qualified and motivated team, introducing modern medical technologies and strengthening patient safety systems. He also stresses the importance of establishing local, national and international partnerships and working toward accreditation of the hospital as a university training base. Zdravkov also comments on challenges in paediatric healthcare, arguing that insufficient understanding of its public importance has led to pressure on the system and difficulties in access to specialized care. The University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Children’s Diseases in Sofia remains the only functioning university children’s hospital in Bulgaria, he notes, which leads to a large inflow of complex paediatric cases from across the country. He says this situation requires serious investment in equipment, staff training and improved remuneration. Zdravkov also points to the shortage of paediatric specialists such as rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, nephrologists and intensive care doctors. Without measures to address the deficit, access to qualified paediatric care may worsen, he warns. Among the ongoing initiatives, he emphasizes on a national project to expand neonatal screening for serious diseases and plans to install an MRI scanner at the hospital to improve diagnostics for critically ill new-borns and children with neurological conditions. Zdravkov adds that modern therapies and new-generation medical equipment have significantly improved survival rates among children with severe and rare diseases, allowing many of them to achieve a quality and life expectancy comparable to healthy children.