site.btaMedia Review: September 1

POLITICS

Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) covered an interview with media researcher and political analyst Ivo Indzhov, who said a united right-wing presidential ticket is currently not possible. He noted that the right in Bulgaria is not homogeneous and that Yes, Bulgaria leaders had ruled out a joint candidacy with Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria.

Indzhov added that he expects Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria to back a ticket comprising former caretaker PM Andrey Gurov and former Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev, although the delayed announcement had weakened their campaign message. Later it was announced that the two would enter the presidential race. The analyst also noted that Iliana Iotova is currently the clear favourite, while GERB-UDF faces a difficult choice over whether to field its own candidate, which, Indzhov added, sends a very off-putting and demoralising message to GERB's dwindling number of supporters. The deadline for registering candidates is September 22.

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In an interview with BNR, Democratic Bulgaria Deputy Floor Leader and Yes, Bulgaria Co-Chair Bozhidar Bozhanov said that GERB was attacking a democratic, pro-European right-wing presidential candidate before the ticket was even announced. He said the entry of Gurov-Kandev into the presidential race was good news because they formed a strong ticket. "If GERB want there to be an alternative to Iotova, they should forget about this attitude," Bozhanov said.
He added that democratic and pro-European GERB voters would have an alternative in Gurov and Kandev, while Ivan Hristanov's candidacy would not split the right-wing vote.

Bozhanov also criticized proposed amendments by the State Agency for National Security that would allow classified-information protection periods to be repeatedly extended, calling for greater democratic oversight. "The direction should be the opposite – more democratic control," he said, warning that national security could be used to conceal activities involving political interference.

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Trud writes that 46.48% of participants in its seven-day online poll rate the Government's performance under Prime Minister Rumen Radev as poor after its first 100 days in office. The poll received 2,728 responses from readers with unique IP addresses. Another 41.58% gave positive ratings, with 17.38% describing the Government's performance as very good, 12.87% as good and 11.33% as excellent, while 11.95% rated it average.
Trud adds that the results point to a sharply divided readership, with the largest single group critical of the Government but more than four in 10 respondents giving it a positive assessment.

ECONOMY

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) covered the introduction of the new multi-fund model for the second pension pillar, under which insured people can choose between dynamic, balanced and conservative sub-funds with different levels of risk and potential returns. The broadcaster reported that 35% of Bulgarians are unaware that 5% of their insurable income is paid into an individual pension account and can be inherited.

University lecturer Zheko Milev viewed the reform as a way to increase returns, with younger people able to take greater risks because of their longer investment horizon. The broadcaster added that those who do not make a choice by November 30 will be allocated to a sub-fund based on their age, while people within three years of retirement will be automatically placed in the conservative sub-fund. The multi-fund model will start operating on January 1, 2027. The changes came into force on September 1, giving people insured under the second pension pillar until the end of November to choose their investment strategy.

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BNR covered an interview with economic and financial analyst Julian Voynov, who said Bulgaria's tax structure needs major reform. He argued that a more proportional distribution of the tax burden should be achieved through reforms to property and direct taxes, rather than a shift to a progressive tax system. "There is a serious deterioration of the entire tax structure in Bulgaria," Voynov said.

He added that the Government's 2027 budget plans include a EUR 660 minimum wage and a EUR 2,400 maximum social-security threshold, with both set to rise in subsequent years. He expects the projected 5.7% budget deficit for 2026 not to be reached, saying Bulgaria could return to the 3% deficit ceiling earlier than expected if there is political will to keep the deficit lower. He also criticized the planned increase in the maximum social-security threshold for putting pressure on high-value-added sectors and advised the Government to focus on realistic reforms rather than populist promises.

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24 Chasa: Bulgaria is expected to reach the legally required 80% natural-gas storage level by November, economist Georgi Angelov said on Nova TV. He notes that Bulgaria's Azerbaijani gas contract covers only 40% of consumption and says Bulgargaz's practice of buying gas month by month rather than under a long-term fixed-price contract leaves the country vulnerable.

Angelov added that Bulgaria could become independent of fuel imports if it discovers a major oil deposit in the Black Sea, similar to Romania. He also said most EU countries are expected to fill their gas storage facilities, probably with Germany as an exception, while gas prices have not been this low since the start of the war in Iran.

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bTV covered an interview with Agriculture, Food and Forestry Committee Chair Yavor Gechev, an MP from Progressive Bulgaria, who said prices of basic food products could be reduced further, as retail mark-ups had remained too high. He cited mark-ups of up to 77% for fresh milk, 82% for cheese, 91% for yellow cheese, 89% for eggs and 73% for minced meat.

Gechev added that the Basket with Care initiative was effective but had not delivered the results he expected, with differences in how retailers participated. He called for the initiative to continue alongside stronger oversight to identify potentially unfair or anti-competitive practices. He also raised concerns about food quality, citing a consumer organization’s test in which only one of 12 cheese products met the requirements, while five contained more than 60% water.

The MP said that one of the main problems is the lack of sufficiently reliable reference data on price movements throughout the entire supply chain – from the producer to the end consumer. He cited France as an example, where specialised observatories monitor the overall price-formation model. In his view, institutions in Bulgaria are still not working in a sufficiently coordinated manner. Until recently, there had not even been a single person within the Economy Ministry specifically responsible for prices.

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Dnevnik writes that a planned increase in the power output of Unit 5 of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant has begun on July 31. BNT also covered the start of the planned increase in the unit's output, reporting that the process is being carried out in stages. The N-Plant is continuously monitoring the Danube’s water level and maintaining communication with the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River on expected changes in the level.

Dnevnik adds that the increase is part of the scheduled operation of Unit 5, while BNT reports that the unit's output will be gradually raised to its normal operating level.

SOCIETY

BNR covered an interview with GERB MP Georg Georgiev, who was in Kocani for the traffic incident case against Iva Mihaylova, saying that broad public attention should help ensure a fair and transparent trial. He noted that the case involved two parallel issues – the criminal proceedings against Mihaylova and her access to adequate medical treatment, which he said should be guaranteed by the authorities in North Macedonia.

Georgiev added that if Mihaylova's human rights continue to be violated, Bulgaria could seek the involvement of European institutions, including the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The case comes after BNT reported that Mihaylova had been denied permission eight times to receive treatment outside North Macedonia, while her trial in Kocani was postponed until September 28 after defence lawyers raised concerns about shortcomings in the prosecution's vehicle-examination report.

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In an interview with BNR, Nature Conservation Director at Green Balkans, Ivеlin Ivanov, who said repeated poisoning of vultures and the lack of an adequate response to previous cases were putting Bulgaria’s vulture restoration programme at risk. He noted that an interdepartmental group involving the Prosecutors' Chamber and the Ministries of Interior, Environment and Agriculture was being formed to work on legislative changes and prevention measures.

Ivanov added that European partners were expecting an adequate response from Bulgarian institutions and that possible financial sanctions linked to livestock subsidies had been discussed, although these remained only ideas. He warned that Bulgaria could lose its participation in the programme to reintroduce the bearded vulture and that the risk was very real.

HEALTHCARE

Dnevnik writes that Health Minister Katya Ivkova has replaced the board of the Health Investment Company for the Children's Hospital, with Elena Peneva-Zlatkova returning as head of the company responsible for the strategic healthcare project. The change is the latest in a series of management reshuffles.

Dnevnik adds that Ivkova criticized the company's management in late July for failing to prepare documents required by the Executive Agency Medical Supervision for a comprehensive assessment of the hospital. She said an interdepartmental council would be created to coordinate the project and ensure that the Health Ministry assumes full responsibility for its implementation.

EDUCATION

BNR reported that Education Minister Georgi Valchev said the Ministry would introduce changes within a year to either the "money follows the student" formula or the delegated-budget system, a plan also confirmed by Prime Minister Radev. The aim is to shift the focus from quantity to quality in education. The media also covered comments by Education Employers' Union Head Diyan Stamatov, who said the delegated-budget system remains the best way for state funding to reach secondary education institutions. He noted that quality-based funding could be added to the existing model, but warned that education cannot be treated as "a single production mechanism". "The elements of quality are quite difficult to implement," Stamatov said, calling for objective criteria and a trial period before the new rules are introduced.

"Students enter school with varying levels of motivation and different social attitudes. They cannot be expected to be equally well prepared. The elements of quality are quite difficult to implement. Nevertheless, it should be possible to identify objective, concise principles that do not require immediate implementation, so as not to disrupt the funding system," Stamatov said.

BNR added that Podkrepa Teachers' Trade Union supports additional funding for schools with few students and insufficient budgets, but not at the expense of other schools. Trade union leader Julian Petrov said student numbers would remain an essential funding component, as small rural schools and much larger schools have very different needs. The Government has not yet specified what will replace the current model.