site.btaMedia Review: March 20

OVERVIEW

The launch of the election campaign and the rising fuel prices are the dominant topics in the media on Friday.

ELECTIONS

In an interview for Bulgarian National Radio, Iva Lazarova, from the Institute for Public Environment Development, part of the Public Council of the Central Election Commission (CEC), said that the upcoming elections will serve as a test of whether society will trust the results afterward. She added that election preparations appear to be at an advanced stage and institutions claim good coordination. However, there is a sense that the organization is focused more on preventing expected problems rather than ensuring they won’t happen at all. Known risks, such as controlled voting, technical and logistical issues, low trust in institutions, and difficulties organizing voting abroad, are still very real. Lazarova said that political parties bear full responsibility for appointing members of local election commissions. Although the CEC has introduced rules to prevent arbitrary replacement of members, similar rules in the past were bypassed. The campaign is starting in an environment of strong public distrust in institutions. The CEC is taking steps, issuing earlier guidelines, improving training, and simplifying election protocols, these are positive institutional efforts. Still, much depends on the competence and integrity of the commission members chosen by political parties. "We don't see any commitment from the parties to explain, through their representatives on the election commissions, how they intend to resolve these issues, so as to move toward at least a slight increase in trust." Preparation for machine voting is also underway, with assurances of transparency and timely execution. Additionally, monitoring of media spending during the campaign has begun, with initial results expected after the first 10 days. Citizens can report irregularities during the campaign and on election day through the “I Vote” platform, and all reports will be made public.

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Speaking on Bulgarian National Television’s morning programme, Tsvetelina Peneva from the Public Council of the Central Election Commission commented on the upcoming elections and the role of citizen observers. According to her, preparations for the April 19 elections are proceeding with intensive checks and discussions regarding the integrity of the process. She praised the improved coordination between the CEC and other institutions, as well as the greater consideration given to the voice of the public. “We are now seeing very good coordination, both within the Central Election Commission and in efforts to coordinate the process with other institutions, responsible for the election. Including us, civil organizations, it seems that our voice is better heard now.”

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In an interview for Nova TV’s morning programme Vanya Nusheva, adviser to caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov on election matters, said that basic integrity of election commission members and proper training are essential. Crossed out and incorrectly filled protocols are the result of poor preparation, lack of knowledge. She reported 106 submitted signals of election-related crimes. “The number of pre-trial proceedings is 43. There is sufficient evidence collected as a result of checks by the Interior Ministry that election crimes were being prepared. Organized vote buying is carried out with the involvement of individuals engaged in other criminal activities,” Nusheva said. According to her, it is especially important to clearly define the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved in the election process. “Political parties nominate members of the local commissions, and no one else has the right to alter them. They can even nominate convicted individuals. We proposed changes to the Election Code so that people proven to have committed violations in previous elections cannot participate again. This proposal was not adopted, although it received some support. We also proposed creating a register of trained commission members, but that was also rejected,” she added. She noted that one of Andrey Gurov’s first messages to the Central Election Commission was to take steps to improve training for commission members. “Voting screens will prevent two types of violations, the possibility of secretly photographing a ballot, and the so-called Indian string technique, where a pre-filled ballot is used to replace a blank one. This can happen if a commission member takes a ballot out and the serial numbers are not later checked,” the adviser explained.

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Segabg.com runs a story titled Big Brother and The Batchelor compete for parliament. Candidate lists for the parliamentary elections have been finalized and the campaign has officially begun, the article says. Several parties have very similar names, like Progressive Bulgaria, Blue Bulgaria, and others, which may confuse voters. The Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition is focusing on young, relatively unknown candidates, many of whom are activists or gained visibility during recent protests, especially among Gen Z. These include students, social media figures, and civic activists. In contrast, some other parties are including more unconventional candidates, such as pop-folk singers, reality TV participants, and social media personalities, hoping to attract attention and voters. This strategy has been used before but hasn’t significantly improved election results. Examples include a Big Brother participant running with the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, a contestant from The Bachelor running with the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and other media personalities placed in electable positions. Some candidates, like a model known as Miss Palestine, also stand out due to their unusual backgrounds. There are also some oddities and controversies, such as candidates appearing on multiple party lists, and even a list with only one candidate in a district. Additionally, fringe parties are fielding colourful figures like TikTok personalities, sometimes paired with radical political ideas like, leaving the EU and NATO. Overall, the campaign features a mix of young activists, traditional party figures, and attention-grabbing celebrity candidates, highlighting both generational change and ongoing attempts to win voters through visibility and novelty.

POLITICS

Dnevnik.bg runs an article on the holding by GERB of a national assembly meeting on March 22, at which the party is to elect its leader, deputies, and key governing bodies. Boyko Borissov is expected to remain leader without surprises, although some changes in the party’s leadership structures are possible due to recent resignations and shifting roles. The meeting is seen largely as the formal start of GERB’s election campaign, which is why major internal shake-ups are unlikely. Borissov has hinted at some restructuring, including giving larger roles to influential mayors, partly to fill gaps left by past figures who exited the party. There have been signs of internal tensions, such as speculation around Delyan Dobrev (media speculation he was leaving the party) and debates about whether successful mayors should run as parliamentary candidates, but these issues appear contained. Overall, the party is expected to maintain stability, with leadership decisions still strongly centralized around Borissov.

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Duma daily’s front page article reports on the PES European Council preparation meeting in Brussels, quoting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addressing Krum Zarkov, the new leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party. "Congratulations on the election victory, and I look forward to working with you." Sanchez thanked Zarkov for his support of the "No to War!" position and for his efforts to establish it as a guiding principle in European politics, which is already receiving broad support from the entire left-wing family in Europe. Left-wing leaders adopted a declaration calling for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East as an urgent priority for the EU, as the conflict threatens Europe’s economic, political, and social stability. They expressed the view that Europe must be a voice of reason and advocate policies aimed at conflict prevention. The meeting was also attended by PES former president, Sergei Stanishev.

ECONOMY

In an interview for bTV’s morning programme, Dimitar Hadzhidimitrov, deputy chair of the Association of Bulgarian Fuel Traders, Producers, and Importers, said that in accordance with the government measure, if the average retail price of common fuels exceeds EUR 1.60 per litre for three consecutive days, vulnerable households are to receive EUR 20 per month. “As of this morning, diesel is over EUR 1.58–1.59 almost everywhere, at absolutely every petrol station in Bulgaria. Perhaps a very small percentage of small stations somewhere are keeping prices below EUR 1.55,” Hadzhidimitrov said. At the start of the conflict, diesel fuel was sold at EUR 1.25–1.26. Petrol was EUR 1.21–1.22. According to Hadzhidimitrov, the measure isn’t bad, but EUR 1.60 is “a bit low”. “We should have set a higher cap. In the past, when such a cap was in place, the price was around EUR 1.70. Back then, incomes were half what they are now,” he added. “Back then, about EUR 90 million were provided over four months.  And now they want to provide EUR 25 million for a single month,” the expert said. “I doubt that the 2.3 million people who will receive this aid will spend it on fuel. They will most likely spend it on completely different things, but not on fuel,” Hadzhidimitrov said. According to him, the market is unlikely to allow prices to rise above USD 110 per barrel. And Bulgaria is not at risk of fuel shortage, he added.

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Trud daily’s leading article says that Bulgaria’s government has so far failed to take concrete action despite a sharp rise in fuel prices, which have reached record levels. Although parliament called for measures to limit the economic impact, none have been implemented yet. Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said that conditions are approaching the threshold for triggering planned compensation for low-income citizens, but the measure has still not been activated. The government is mainly relying on market monitoring and control to prevent unjustified price increases, rather than introducing broader support policies. There are growing concerns that rising fuel costs will drive inflation and spread from the transport sector to consumer goods. “Inflation is always a serious risk whenever fuel prices rise, so all measures available to both the government and regulatory authorities must be taken. These consist mainly of strict monitoring, sending a signal to the market that they are under close observation and control, and ensuring that the situation is not exploited to take advantage of the turmoil,” he said. The Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB) is urging immediate action, warning that delays could harm the economy and consumers. The International Road Transport Union said that transport companies are already reducing operations due to a roughly 35% increase in costs, especially affecting smaller firms. Much of this burden is expected to be passed on to consumers. KRIB calls on the government to act quickly to contain the economic fallout, the article said.

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Bulgaria, along with other EU countries, is pushing to revise the EU carbon emissions trading system or temporarily suspend it or cap carbon prices to ease pressure from the current energy and geopolitical crisis. In an interview for Mediapool.bg, energy expert Martin Vladimirov argued that such measures would have only a small and short-term effect on energy prices, since carbon costs make up a relatively small share of electricity prices compared to factors like natural gas. In the longer term, this could harm investment in renewable energy and low-emission technologies, slow innovation, and ultimately lead to higher costs and fewer jobs. Vladimirov warned that “Interference in price setting, particularly in the natural gas market, can lead to only one thing: shortages.” He suggested alternative solutions: reducing energy demand, supporting consumers and businesses through direct government compensation rather than distorting market prices. He added that suspending emissions trading would cut important revenues for Bulgaria, potentially forcing higher household electricity prices or increasing the budget deficit. In his view the crisis is likely temporary and does not justify drastic policy changes that could undermine long-term energy transition goals.

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Capital Weekly’s headline article is titled Europe Wants to Bring Factories Back Home. With the Made in the EU doctrine and the end of market naivety, the EU is entering the battle for industrial survival. EU member states will have to give preference to local companies in public procurement in an effort to save the EU’s industry. "The mindset is shifting decisively: from a race based on the lowest price to the question of what is strategically important for us and whether we can produce it right now," Georgi Dobrev, senior director for energy policy at FTI Consulting, one of the most influential consulting firms in Brussels, working largely with heavy industry, told Capital. Investments from third countries may also be subject to mandatory technology transfer. The plan is pending approval by member states and the European Parliament, a process that could take one to two years. The EU is planning a major shift in its policy on foreign direct investment, aiming to limit dependence on countries like China in strategic sectors such as batteries and electric vehicles, the article said. The new approach would impose strict conditions on large foreign investors (over EUR 100 million), including mandatory technology transfer, at least 50% EU staff, a European partner with majority ownership, and investment in R&D within the EU. This move is widely seen as targeting China and mirrors restrictions that already exist in the Chinese market. The goal is to prevent Europe from becoming merely an assembly base for foreign companies and to strengthen its own industrial capacity. Some EU states urge caution, warning that excessive protectionism could provoke trade retaliation. Business groups have also raised concerns, arguing that such restrictions could hurt Europe’s competitiveness and discourage investment. Analysts note that the measures would particularly affect Chinese investments, which currently make up a significant share of new battery factories in the EU, which could be most impacted. The EU is trying to strike a balance between protecting its strategic industries and avoiding harmful economic backlash. Bulgaria must not remain passive in shaping the final form of the Industrial Accelerator Act and must not agree to be left in "second gear" in its implementation. Bulgaria possesses significant industrial potential that often remains “under the radar” in Brussels. Paolo Falconi, General Director of APPLiA (Home Applience Europe) in Belgium, said that "Bulgaria is a shining example of strong manufacturing, 67 companies in our sector alone (home appliances and parts) have a turnover of EUR 700 million. This is the backbone of the economy.” On the other hand, however, the lack of political continuity and a clear strategy prevent the country from capitalizing on this potential. Georgi Dobrev added that "The way public procurement is structured in our country is flawed, often involving only one or two bidders, with contracts awarded solely on the basis of the lowest price. We lack a long-term and sustainable strategy that every subsequent government would defend in Brussels."

SOCIETY

Telegraf daily’s front page article says that the digital system meant to ensure learner drivers actually attend driving lessons has been easy to bypass by driving schools. Introduced to prevent fraud common with paper records, it uses a GPS-based mobile app to track lessons. While it improves monitoring, experts say it still cannot guarantee that the student is actually present during the lesson. Instructors can misuse it by driving alone and logging fake training sessions. As a result, undertrained drivers are still getting licenses with far fewer hours than required and the lack of night driving practice is the most dangerous, the article adds.

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24 Chasa daily’s front page article says that researchers have found, based on the brain health of 1.2 million people, that deep groundwater reduces the risk of Parkinson's disease by 62%. It is free of chemicals, as the layers of sand act as a giant filter. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and nerve-damaging condition, with older adults more likely to be affected. A focus of recent research was how Parkinson’s disease risk was associated with groundwater. The study found that the age of groundwater and aquifer type may both impact risk for Parkinson’s. These risks are likely related to exposure to certain water contaminants. More research into specific contaminants is required, as well as exploration of prevention strategies.