site.btaMedia Review: May 12

PRESIDENT RADEV PROPOSES REFERENDUM ON EURO ADOPTION

The main focus of most publications over the weekend were reactions to President Rumen Radev planning to propose a referendum on the adoption of the euro. He specified he will propose the following question for the referendum: “Do you agree for Bulgaria to adopt the single European currency euro in 2026?".

Telegraph writes that after a storm of comments and opinions expressed by politicians and ordinary citizens on the occasion of the proposed referendum "at 5 minutes to midnight", the question arises as to how the National Assembly will behave, will it allow or not such a referendum, determined by experts as constitutionally inadmissible. The daily calls this situation a “scandal” so close to Bulgaria being approved to join the eurozone. 

Trud, 24 Chasa and Sega report that parties supporting accession to the eurozone are preparing a firm and quick response to President Rumen Radev's proposal to hold a referendum on the topic. The response will consist of two parts: the National Assembly will quickly reject the referendum proposal by Wednesday and will adopt a declaration confirming the country's determination to adopt the euro at the beginning of next year. This was proposed by Democratic Bulgaria Co-chair Atanas Atanasov, who also presented a draft decision to be submitted to Parliament's registry on Monday.

Mediapool, in a sarcastic tone, notes that a day after President Rumen Radev announced the initiation of a referendum on entering the eurozone, the government “remembered that it had to react and started something similar to a campaign” in the form of social media posts and videos from the information campaign by the Ministry of Finance and the Bulgarian National Bank. The publication was also quite critical of the quality of the short videos. 

Sega stresses that President Rumen Radev seems to have no problem with taking completely opposite positions. The publication pointed out that in a 2022 meeting with the Vazrazhdane party, Radev explained at length how European laws do not allow for such a referendum. A video of this meeting is circulating online. It shows Radev using the same arguments that are now being used by his opponents. Radev himself pointed out that "holding a referendum on issues regulated in already adopted international treaties is impossible, and there is also a restriction from the Constitution".

Mediapool, Telegraph and Trud quote President Rumen Radev, who said that "It is surprising that the people who call themselves the greatest democrats declare themselves against democracy”. He called the refusal to hold a referendum and instead adopting a declaration for the adoption of the euro from January 1, 2026, “incomprehensible". Radev stressed that he wants a referendum, not in favour or against the adoption of the euro, but one focusing on the country’s readiness and the time frame for when this should be achieved. 

Duma, 24 Chasa and Telegraph also stress that the Bulgarian Socialist Party, who have always supported Rumen Radev so far, this time adamantly oppose the undermining of the process of Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone. BSP - United Left will not support Radev's referendum on the euro. 

24 Chasa, Mediapool and Sega report that forty professors from the law faculties of four universities (Sofia University, New Bulgarian University, Plovdiv University and Veliko Tarnovo University) came out on Sunday with a position that the convening of an unconstitutional referendum, consciously or not, aims to suspend the Bulgarian Constitution, undermines the country's authority and destroys the trust between Bulgaria and its European partners.

REACTIONS

Trud quotes the reactions of various political figures, including National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, who told journalists she expects that President Radev’s proposal for a referendum will be supported by sound reasoning when it reaches the legislature and that the way the issue was presented, without reasoning, is disputable; GERB leader Boyko Borisov, who insisted that the National Assembly reject Rumen Radev's proposal for a referendum on the euro as quickly as possible and noted that if Bulgaria allows such referendum, the country will not be able to enter the eurozone; the BSP-United Left, who have never questioned Bulgaria’s entry to the eurozone, but rather be focused on preparing the country best; Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, who said that Radev no longer has the moral right to call himself the president of a European Bulgaria and that Bulgaria will not be diverted from its pro-European path; MEP Radan Kanev who questioned Radev’s sudden change in position and whether he “received instructions” for it; There Is Such a People's (TISP) Toshko Yordanov, who stressed that there is no disagreement in TISP, as they have long stated that they support Bulgaria entering the eurozone; Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev’ who noted that Radev’s referendum proposal came on Europe Day and deemed this as worrying; GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva, who accused Radev of using citizens for his own agenda; VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement, who support the referendum; Vazrazhdane, the main opposition of Bulgaria adopting the euro, who criticize Radev’s late change of heart, etc.

24 Chasa also quotes the reactions of various political figures, including those of Kiselova; Borissov; Sacheva ; Kanev; Terziev, etc. as well as reactions by Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF) Floor Leader Dzhevdet Chakarov, who said that his party's choice in favour of the euro was made 35 years ago; Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria’s (CC-DB) Nikolay Denkov who said that Radev’s proposal clearly aims to serve certain interests and is destabilizing to Bulgaria; CC-DB MPs Daniel Lorer and Ivaylo Mirchev who said that the President’s move aims to draw attention away from the controversial Bulgargaz- Botas Agreement; Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) President Plamen Dimitrov, who expressed disappointment in the President’s actions; Podkrepa Confederation of Labour head Dimitar Manolov and Maria Mincheva, Deputy Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association who agreed that the reason for the current hesitations, if there are any at all at the moment, is due to the very late and almost absent campaign for the introduction of the euro; former president Rosen Plevneliev, who said that this is a golden opportunity for Radev to position himself as a leader to the eurosceptics in the country; historian Petar Stoyanovich who warned that this move will deepen the polarization in Bulgarian society; Dimitar Ganev from the Trend Agency, who said that Radev is accumulating political capital; CC-DB MP Ivaylo Mirchev who called the referendum proposal a “sabotage’’ to Bulgaria entering the eurozone; BSP MP Kristian Vigenin, who said that this referendum sends a bad message to European institutions; GERB’s Tomislav Donchev, who said that this discourse is an “investment towards division in society”; former foreign minister Solomon Passy, who said that Bulgaria has been late in joining both Schengen and the eurozone and that there is no more time to waste; Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum’s position that adopting the euro will improve the quality of life and the image of the country, the investment environment and the quality of life of all Bulgarians, etc.

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On Monday morning, discussions on the subject continued on Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Bulgarian National Television (BNT), bTV and Nova TV. 

In a BNR interview, Prof. Ivan Roussev, a historian and European Studies lecturer at the University of Economics in Varna, said that the debate on holding a referendum on the introduction of the euro in this country at this stage is very late, about 20 years too late. He argued that President Radev’s actions are more of a political move than a necessary democratic instrument. In the history of referendums in Europe, there has never been a similar case and question about the adoption of the single European currency. [Referendums on the matter in Denmark and Sweden were held before the establishment of the eurozone, unlike Bulgaria who has been working towards this goal for two decades]. Roussev was adamant that Europe will not accept this signal positively, because it suggests that Bulgaria has a problem within its institutions. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences corresponding member said that even he and many economists cannot be conclusive on the euro adoption topic as it requires specialized knowledge in macroeconomics - that makes holding a referendum on it an unwise move as it cannot be expected of the general public to have the necessary expertise. He compared it to the Brexit referendum which led the UK out of the European Union even though the majority of the young people in the country and those based in the capital London voted against that. 

On the air of BNT, BSP MEP Petar Vitanov said that the proposed debate is not all negative, as it would provide an opportunity to separate the camps and political figures who will bear responsibility, and provides an opportunity to compensate for the lack of an information campaign for the euro. Vitanov said that he has always been pro-European, although he also has his concerns about the adoption of the euro.

GERB MEP Emil Radev argued on BNT that a decision to hold such a referendum is absolutely unconstitutional, and stressed that if Bulgaria misses this chance to join the eurozone, it will not come again for many years. 

Political analyst Slavi Vassilev said in a BNT debate that including the people’s opinion is important in this process, as entering the eurozone is a major decision that would affect their livelihoods. Prof. Stoycho Stoychev argued that a decision for a referendum means a rejection of the euro. He explained that Parliament is faced with three hypotheses: to call a referendum and reject Bulgaria's membership in the eurozone, not just for 2026, but forever; to reject the referendum; or “to approach it with the same level of cynicism and call a referendum on the eurozone, but at the next presidential elections".

Prof. Rumen Gechev, former minister of economy and former MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and financier Levon Hampartzumyan commented on the topic on bTV. “There should absolutely be no referendum at this time. First, that it is illegal and second, that at this stage there is no way to go back,” Hampartzumyan was adamant. Gechev, on the other hand, stated that holding a national referendum is imperative for legal and democratic reasons.

Former prime minister Ivan Kostov said in a bTV interview that President Radev’s move is "an exploitation of the populist thesis that many politicians stand by, saying that they are defending the interests of the people against the decisions of the elite”. ”This is a blow to the institutional authorities," Kostov further commented.

On the air of Nova, journalist Vladimir Yonchev said: “I am not inclined to ignore the most likely reason for Radev's actions, human stupidity. He is surrounded by advisers who constantly tell each other that Russia will win" and that Bulgaria should move toward a Russian zone of influence.

ECONOMY

Trud quotes Financial Supervision Commission Chair Vasil Golemanski, who said that the preparation of the non-bank financial sector for the introduction of the euro is at a very advanced stage. He pointed out that according to the results of the Commission's survey among supervised entities, a significant part of them have already taken concrete measures to adapt to the new currency. Most participants in the survey indicated that they have developed internal plans for the transition, updated their information systems and started communicating with clients and partners about the upcoming changes. Golemanski added that the focus of the FSC's future development will be on establishing it as an authoritative and transparent regulator.

***

Sega writes that over 1/5 of Bulgaria's population lives in poverty, and almost half of the people in the country cannot meet unexpected expenses, as indicated by an analysis by the Institute for Market Economy, based on data from the National Statistical Institute. The poor in Bulgaria have increased to 21.7% of the population in 2024. The main characteristics of poverty are unemployment, low education, a higher number of children in the household, older age, ethnicity. In 2024, about 46% of households, or nearly 3 million people, could not meet unexpected financial expenses such as urgent repairs to the home or car, sudden illness, replacing a washing machine or refrigerator. Over 41% could afford a week-long vacation away from home, over 39% could not replace old furniture, and 19% could not maintain a normal temperature in their home. Every fifth person over 16 had difficulty buying clothes and shoes and did not have even a small amount of money for personal needs.

***

Trud reports that the areas of potatoes sown by Bulgarian farmers are drastically decreasing, according to data from the latest operational analysis of the Ministry of Agriculture. The situation is similar with the production of Bulgarian cabbage, BNR reported. As of the end of April 2025, the planted areas of potatoes have decreased by 62%, and those with cabbage have decreased by 43%. This does not yet mean that there will be drastically fewer Bulgarian potatoes and cabbage on the market this year, said National Association of Potato Growers Chairman Todor Dzhikov, noting that this is a momentary analysis that is influenced by climatic factors. And yet, according to official data, the decrease in areas on an annual basis since 2023 was 45%. According to the industry, the reason is that potato production is unattractive, difficult and unprofitable. Official statistics also indicate that since the beginning of the year to date, 21% fewer tomatoes and 22% fewer cucumbers have been harvested in greenhouses in the country compared to the previous period in 2024. 

***

Mediapool reported that Fly2Sky airline became the 350th member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Fly2Sky is a Bulgarian charter airline headquartered in Sofia. It has a fleet of several Airbus aircraft, which it leases for flights between Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. This is the third Bulgarian airline to become an IATA member, after Bulgaria Air and Electra Airways.

HEALTHCARE

Telegraph reports that over 16 million prescriptions have been issued since the beginning of the year, according to data from the National Health Information System. Last year, their number was almost 40 million. Nearly 26% of the prescriptions issued this year were paid for out-of-pocket by the patient, and nearly 74% by the National Health Insurance Fund. The most prescribed prescription medications in the country were for high blood pressure, to prevent blood clots, as well as to control blood sugar. The main cause of mortality in Bulgaria continues to be diseases of the cardiovascular system, which account for 61.1% of all cases, followed by oncological diseases, which cause the death of 16.5% of Bulgarians.

Trud reports that a national protest of medical specialists will take place on Monday, May 12, in front of the Ministry of Health building, organized by the Union of Bulgarian Medical Specialists. The protesters said that they receive salaries close to the minimum wage. They are alarmed about the closure of departments and even entire hospitals due to the lack of medical personnel. They stressed that there is no sufficiently adequate national policy for retaining and training personnel in the system.

On May 12, International Nurses Day, BNT again raised the topic of the shortage of nurses. There are 17,000 unfilled positions in the hospital and outpatient system. Quite a few of those working are retirees. The long-standing staff shortage and the absolutely short-sighted policy of the state have led to the shortage of nurses. Nurses in developed systems are perceived not as subordinate employees of doctors, but as equal partners in providing quality and safe medical care, Dr Blagomir Zdravkov pointed out. In Bulgaria, this is still difficult to achieve, he noted. 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Trud and 24 Chasa quote Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, who, during an online meeting of the heads of state and government of the so-called Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, stressed that Bulgaria has been continuously supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the war. "We must all make sure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to achieve a just and lasting peace," reads a post of his on X. 

***

Sega reports that a two and a half year delay in the transposition of two directives related to copyright will cost Bulgaria EUR 2 million, per a decision by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). These are the Directive on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market and the Directive on Copyright and Related Rights applicable to certain online broadcasts. The deadline for transposing both into national law expired on June 7, 2021. These aim to modernize copyright rules so that consumers and creators can make the most of the digital world.

Mediapool reports that the European Commission has begun an infringement procedure against Bulgaria due to failure to implement new rules on road charges related to vignettes for cars and tolls for trucks and buses. The 2022 European directive requires road use charges to reflect not only the distance or travel time, but also the damage that vehicles cause to the environment, such as carbon dioxide air pollution, noise and congestion. The introduction of these changes was supposed to come into force by March 25, 2024. 

HOME AFFAIRS

Sega writes that the Government has no intention of delaying its intention to get rid of state-owned properties that are no longer needed. The Cabinet has set ultra-short deadlines for the implementation of the programme, with real tenders expected after July. The ministers approved a programme to take active action in relation to land that has been abandoned for a year, promising that the proceeds from any sales and established rights will go to a new fund at the regional ministry, earmarked for the construction of new public infrastructure with a social purpose such as nurseries, kindergartens, schools, etc.

***

Mediapool and Sega report that Sofia transport will hold a strike on Wednesday, May 14, between 4 am and 8 am. Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev confirmed the protest called by the Confederation of Bulgarian Trade Unions (CITUB) of drivers who do not agree with the proposed increase in their salaries by BGN 100 and are demanding BGN 400. The metro schedule will not be affected. The unions are demanding an urgent allocation of an additional BGN 40.7 million from the state budget for public transport in Sofia, Varna and Ruse, as well as for the Automobile Administration Executive Agency.

Telegraph, Mediapool report of protests in Sofia and Varna against animal abuse, calling for stricter control and effective punishments for animal abusers. Varna protestors call for the introduction of zoopolice in the municipality.

Telegraph reports that the personnel crisis in the Border Police from previous years has been overcome, a record number of 2,600 candidates have competed for 400 vacant positions. The first batch that passed the selection process will begin their training on Monday, May 12, in Pazardzhik. This month, a new competition for another 400 positions is due to be announced.