site.btaMedia Review: April 29

POLITICS

Trud has an interview with sociologist Ivo Maev on the recent election campaign and its results. He argued that young people from Generation Z tend to constantly seek new carriers of their political ideas, frequently change their vote, and are not a stable electorate for any particular party. According to him, in the eyes of young voters, Progressive Bulgaria leader Rumen Radev, appeared as an alternative to GERB leader Boyko Borissov - something that the Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria coalition failed to achieve because they were unable to move beyond their image as an urban party. “At the local level, their campaigns were very weak; they are absent in the provinces, and in medium-sized and small towns they are almost non-existent. It is not that Radev had a party and structure, but he did have a kind of proto-structure around former regional governors and part of the former red nomenklatura that managed to reorient itself locally, as well as former and current mayors who shifted towards his project,” Maev said. He expressed confidence that within no more than two years, young people’s attitudes towards Radev will change, as he will become part of the status quo for them. Maev stressed the key importance of social media in modern election campaigns and added that Radev performed very strongly in them. The sociologist predicted that the Progressive Bulgaria leader will never again receive as many votes and that support for him will decline from now on, as it is impossible for the policies he is expected to pursue to be fully implemented. “A large part of middle-aged voters who supported Radev expect him to scrap the euro - something that clearly cannot happen. Others expect him to reduce prices - that will not happen either. Young people will have to enter the labour market and will be affected by this; they will be the first to abandon Radev,” he said.

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In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, political scientist Vesislava Tancheva commented on political leverages on the judicial system in Bulgaria and the expectations before the largest political force of the 52nd National Assembly - Progressive Bulgaria (PB). “Unfortunately, most of the high public appointments in the judicial system are based on political arguments,” she said. The political aspirations of the ruling elite have practically always influenced the majority in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), said Tancheva. Regarding the upcoming SJC meeting, she said she expects a mere restructuring rather than complete overhaul of the system and defined the appointment of “the closest deputy” of former acting prosecutor general Borislav Sarafov as his successor a perfect example of this process. Concerning the outcome of the parliamentary elections on April 19, Tancheva stressed the overall absence of clearly defined goals and tasks in the leading political force’s ruling programme. “Progressive Bulgaria maintains balanced external policy and right-leaning economic stance which will eventually disappoint the prevailing left-minded constituents of PB who were misled by several political figures in the former president’s circle,” she said. Asked to comment on the statement that “the PB leader is a man who promises normal relations of Bulgaria not only with EU, but also with Russia” Tancheva underscored that “normal relations with Russia” nowadays means isolation of a country which does not act normally. The political scientist admitted the possibility of an insignificant turn of some Bulgarian policies, excluding the chance of any radical changes. She highlighted the role of business representatives in sponsoring Radev’s election campaign and said that his coalition will not infringe their interest in Bulgaria’s membership in EU and NATO.

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On bTV’s morning programme, Progressive Bulgaria MP Anton Kutev outlined his role in the future government, the formation’s priorities, and the expected actions in Parliament and judicial reform. He denied being among the candidates for Progressive Bulgaria floor leader, stressing that the decision on the position will be taken by Rumen Radev. He also said he would not be part of the future government lineup, as “only three or four out of 131” MPs in the parliamentary group have experience in the National Assembly. “There is no way we can enter into talks with GERB and with [Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Delyan] Peevski on changing the Supreme Judicial Council. With everyone else outside them - yes,” Kutev said.

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24 Chasa features an extensive interview with PR expert Vanina Koleva, “for whom people in GERB say that she arranged the MP candidate lists in Sofia”. The daily highlights an ongoing struggle between “old and young” in the party, with Koleva presented as one of the faces of the younger group, while the older side is represented by former culture minister (2009-2013, 2014-2017) Vejdi Rashidov, who is quoted as calling Koleva “a new star who pulls the strings”. In the interview, she expresses surprise at this description, noting that she has been a PR expert in GERB since 2013, during which time she has worked, including, in the National Assembly and in the Sports Ministry. In turn, she also made accusations against her colleague: “It turns out that Mr Rashidov has developed a negative attitude towards young people in GERB because he attempted to obtain a property in Sofia from the then Regional Governor Stefan Arsov, who, however, refused him due to a lack of legal grounds. For this refusal, for some reason Mr Rashidov also blames me, probably as someone who is mainly engaged in the development of younger cadres in the GERB party,” she said, quoted in the article. Koleva added that she is not surprised by the comments, “given Mr Rashidov’s 'respectful' attitude towards women”, and denied having a role in the selection of the party’s personnel in Sofia, because “decisions on GERB’s MP candidates are taken personally by Boyko Borissov”. She did not agree with the claim that the decline in the party’s results in Sofia is greater compared to the national level, noting that it is lower compared to regions such as Varna and Dobrich.

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Trud features an article entitled “BSP will rise from the ashes again”. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) remained outside parliament and threw its gravediggers into delight, it reads. “It is too early, however, for them to gloat, because the centenarian will rise from the ashes again. Ups and downs are embedded in its history,” writes Rosen Tahov. He proceeds to list the aforementioned ups and downs of BSP and its predecessor, the Bulgarian Communist Party. The text emphasises the tendency of the oldest political force in the country to adapt to the times “like a chameleon”, but does not provide arguments as to why and how it will succeed in recovering from its current decline in support.

On bTV’s morning show, Defiant Bulgaria National Movement leader Korneliya Ninova commented on the downfall of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, which she chaired between 2016 and 2024. “They expelled me from the party because, for a long time, around ten years, I was an absolute iron wall against Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski penetrating and taking over BSP and forming a coalition,” she argued. She claims that over the years she was offered various proposals, which she refused. “They offered me to be Chair of Parliament, an MEP, an ambassador. I refused everything and did not betray BSP,” Ninova said. According to her, participating in a coalition with GERB and MRF is a key reason for the decline in the party’s support.

ECONOMY

On Nova Television’s morning show, Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski advised the forthcoming regular government to limit unnecessarily inflated expenditure, which could save “hundreds of millions of euros”: “There are many such cases, and one example is the tests for two types of cancer under a programme of the Ministry of Health - for human papillomavirus and for colorectal cancer. The public procurement is worth EUR 10 million. It turned out that we have between five and ten times inflated prices per individual test. This means that the procurement should have cost EUR 2-3 million. Another example is the prices of medicines. In addition, regarding an incinerator for the disposal of animals, we have suspicions of fictitious lorry trips. For example, its capacity is one level, yet we have registered daily trips that are three times higher. We are talking about tens of millions of euros,” said Klisurski. He added that he has assigned over 60 inspections to the State Financial Inspection Agency. The Minister pointed out that the Rosen Zhelyazkov cabinet has left unpaid funds for municipalities - for balls for schools, as well as for repairs of kindergartens and student dormitories. At the same time, however, the capital of the Bulgarian Development Bank has been increased by BGN 4 billion. According to him, a regular budget should be adopted within 2-3 months. Klisurski believes that reaching an agreement is in its final stage on increasing the amount of the fourth payment under the Recovery and Resilience Plan by the European Commission, as well as shifting the deadlines by one or two months so that the regular government has time to carry out the necessary reforms. These include establishing an anti-corruption body and a mechanism for oversight of the Prosecutor General. If the conditions are met, the fourth payment under the Plan could reach EUR 1.1 billion instead of EUR 900 million.

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Mediapool.bg published an article saying that Bulgarian Olympic Committee President-elect Vesela Lecheva’s family is entering the insurance market, after one of the newest companies in the economic conglomerate of her son and brother (Martin Velev and Daniel Lechev) expanded its licence and can now sell the compulsory motor third-party liability insurance for drivers. Lecheva was sport minister in the caretaker governments of Galab Donev, appointed by the then president, now leader of Progressive Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, the article notes. “The main revenues in Lecheva’s family business in recent years have come from fast loans, gambling and real estate, as is clear from the companies’ reports in the Commercial Register. The family’s economic power is enormous. The main holding that brings together a large part of the businesses of Velev and Lechev, including the financial and construction ones - MVF Holding, reports total revenues in 2024 of BGN 491 million and a net profit of BGN 53 million,” Mediapool wrote. Founded in 2024, Fenix Insurance reported a minimal market share of 0.1% last year, but a few weeks ago obtained a licence for the most competitive market niche in insurance in the country - motor third-party liability. This market segment of compulsory insurance in Bulgaria regularly creates problems and is usually avoided by international insurance groups, the article reads. The obtaining of the licence coincides in time with the ban on the sector leader over the past two years, DallBogg: Life and Health, from concluding new insurance contracts due to regulatory non-compliance. The leading position in the entire general insurance market last year was held by Euroins - with nearly BGN 616 million in revenues.

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Telegraph writes that the country is facing the risk of losing half of its bee colonies after the agreement on honey imports under MERCOSUR enters into force on May 1. Citing the press centre of MEP Elena Yoncheva (MRF/Non-Attached), the daily says that the agreement provides for duty-free imports of a number of agricultural products, including 45,000 tonnes of honey annually, which directly affects Bulgaria. Small producers will be the most seriously affected, the article reads.

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Duma’s lead article warns of an upcoming increase in the price of bread. The article reads that it is expected to be between EUR 0.05 and 0.10 over the next 2-3 months - a forecast by long-time baker in Montana Region Valeri Krastev, which he explains with rising gas prices “which have driven everything else up as well.” At the same time, the daily quotes National Branch Union of Bakers and Confectioners Board Chair Mariana Kukusheva, according to whom there is no wave of bread price increases and she does not expect one to begin. The media outlet also states that “the most common white bread in Haskovo has already increased by EUR 0.06”.

DEFENCE

Mediapool.bg reported that the caretaker Government has decided to purchase different types of ammunition for the Stryker armoured vehicles, which Bulgaria is set to acquire from the United States, and this will reduce the total amount under the contract by USD 12.58 million. The Council of Ministers decision is dated 16 April. Bulgaria purchased the vehicles on deferred payment, and the reduction in funds for ammunition will be reflected in the upcoming instalments until 2029. “The planned capabilities of the Stryker combat vehicles, as stated in our country’s requirements at the time of signing the delivery contract, are not being reduced,” explained caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov at one of the last meetings of the Gurov Cabinet. The reason for the change is that the year of production of the ammunition under two of the contract lines does not allow for storage in warehouses in the country, while those under a third line are to be rejected due to incompatibility with the radar system for unmanned aerial systems that will be installed on the Stryker combat vehicles, the article reads. This is one of Bulgaria’s priority military projects. According to plan, this year the Armed Forces is expected to receive a total of 33 Stryker combat vehicles. Bulgaria has purchased from the US and General Dynamics a total of 198 combat and support vehicles, 183 of which are from the Stryker family, the media outlet added.

SPORT

On Nova Television’s morning show, Bulgarian snowboarder Malena Zamfirova, who is recovering after a serious accident on a ski slope in the Czechia, said that she is feeling increasingly better. The athlete described the week following the incident as the most difficult moment: “I was not operated on immediately, as there was a certain risk to my life. That one week was very difficult - I was confined to bed and that was actually my biggest problem - that I could not move.” She expressed confidence that she will be ready for the start of the new snowboarding season - perhaps in China, perhaps at the next World Cup. “There is time until then, I will recover and I think I will not miss a large part of the season. I will miss last summer, which I spent kitesurfing and motocross riding. Now it will be more about rehabilitation and training in the gym and indoors, but it will pass,” Zamfirova said.

WORLD

On Bulgarian National Television’s morning show, international security expert Ivaylo Ivanov commented on the Iran-US conflict. “At the moment, both sides believe they are winning, and neither of them is ready to make any kind of concession. Donald Trump has, from the very beginning, repeated that all of Iran’s military capabilities have been destroyed, which is true, but on the political front things do not look so straightforward,” he said. According to Ivanov, the longer the conflict continues, the more costly it will be for both sides, but Iran believes it can withstand the economic damage for longer than the United States and the global economy, from where pressure will come. “In addition, Iran believes that the midterm elections in the United States are exerting enormous pressure on Donald Trump’s administration, which is a fact,” the expert added. He was adamant that, for there to be a diplomatic solution to the conflict, concessions must be made by both sides - something that at present neither of them is prepared to do.