site.btaMedia Review: August 5

No single topic dominates the front pages of print media on Tuesday. 

POLITICS

Trud publishes an AI-generated analysis on the likelihood of GERB leader Boyko Borissov running for president in the 2026 elections. According to the analysis, with three terms as prime minister, extensive international contacts, and a solid electoral base, Borissov increasingly appears as a logical candidate to transition from executive to representative power. His recent rhetoric has shifted from partisan to national themes, emphasizing statehood, political normalization, and reconciliation - signaling a strategic repositioning. Within GERB, there are signs of preparation for a major strategic pivot, with local party structures publicly endorsing the idea of Borissov restoring trust in the presidential institution after years of confrontational rhetoric under previous administrations. According to the AI, Borissov’s advantages include unmatched national recognition, governance and foreign policy experience, and the potential to embody stability amid political turmoil. However, challenges include his polarizing image, the limited powers of the presidential institution compared to executive roles he previously held, and uncertainty about GERB’s future leadership without him. If he runs, it will likely be a calculated political decision amid Bulgaria’s political fragmentation and the rising importance of the presidency. While no official announcement has been made, the circumstances suggest his candidacy is a real possibility, representing a bid to revive statehood through practical leadership.

AGRIFOOD SUPPLY CHAIN REFORM

On the morning programme of Nova TV, experts commented on the proposed amendments to the Agrifood Supply Chain Act, which are currently under public discussion. They warn that the new regulations could lead to higher prices and challenges for both consumers and producers. Simeon Karakolev, Co-Chair of the National Sheep and Goat Breeders Association, emphasized that while consumers need not worry about promotional prices disappearing, the basis for calculating those prices requires careful evaluation. He noted that disruptions at the start of the supply chain tend to impact prices along the entire chain, posing risks especially to dairy producers, many of whom benefit from subsidies. Yani Yanev from the Association of Producers of Vegetable Oils and Processors of Oil Crops pointed out that changes in promotional pricing regulations would most affect consumers relying on discounts at major retail chains. He highlighted inconsistencies in the proposals, including the challenge producers face since retailers often lack transparency about production costs when negotiating prices. Boyko Sinapov, Chair of the United Bulgarian Stock Breeders Association, stressed that the aim of the amendments is to protect the interests of both producers and consumers. He noted the absence of oversight regarding retail markups between producers and final sale prices as a key market issue the law seeks to address.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) also covers the topic. Speaking on the TV’s morning show, Vladimir Ivanov, head of the the Commodity Exchange and Wholesale Markets State Commission, said that Bulgaria currently has a well-functioning market driven by supply and demand, with no external disruptions despite earlier predictions of turmoil after May 20, emphasizing the market mechanism as the best regulator. In contrast, Food Drink Bulgaria Executive Director Iana Stratieva voiced serious concerns about the proposed changes to the Agrifood Supply Chain Act, warning they could cause shortages and speculation, and criticized the unprecedented guarantee of a 10% profit margin for producers as potentially distorting the market. While Ivanov urged patience until public debates conclude before further judgment, he acknowledged existing distribution issues along the supply chain that require attention.

REAL ESTATE

24 Chasa publishes an interview with Sofia’s Chief Architect Bogdana Panayotova, who highlights the urgent need for a new development plan for the capital, with preparations for its terms of reference already underway. She notes that administrative measures are being taken to shift development interest from the overbuilt southern boroughs toward the northern areas of the city. Panayotova assures there is no risk of construction in South Park and urges buyers of properties "off-plan" to verify project feasibility with the National Construction Control Directorate. Legislative changes are also being prepared to reduce construction density in certain zones. She firmly opposes the construction of a 215-meter skyscraper near Paradise Mall, noting that the current plan allows for four times less development on that site. A design competition is also proposed for the future of the site where the Soviet Army Monument stood before it was dismantled. Panayotova adds that she has identified 1,300 delayed administrative files, which are expected to be processed by the end of October.

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Telegraph reports on the growing interest in purchasing real estate encumbered with a right of use, a property burden that can reduce the market price by up to 70%. Dobromir Ganev of the National Real Estate Association explains that while such deals are hard to quantify due to the lack of official data, buyers may request significant discounts, especially when elderly users still reside in the property. An example cited is a EUR 200,000 apartment in Sofia, which could drop to EUR 60,000 due to the tenant's lifetime right of residence. However, these properties are typically ineligible for mortgage financing.

According to lawyer Antony Dimitrov, the right of use is a real encumbrance, often lifelong, and buyers who fail to identify such burdens risk acquiring a property they cannot inhabit, rent, or profit from. The only available action is resale, possibly at a loss. Buyers are urged to check the Property Register thoroughly. Additionally, unresolved rights of use or past gifts can trigger inheritance claims from other heirs, especially when the deal disguises a donation. Such transactions are risky and require legal clarity and price adjustments.

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Speaking on bTV’s morning show a member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian National Bank, Lyubomir Karimanski said that Bulgarians buy apartments because they have nowhere else to invest their money. “Incomes in Bulgaria have risen significantly. When people talk about GDP growth, it’s mainly driven by rising incomes, which outpace the growth of goods and services produced in the country. That’s why people, lacking other options, invest their money in housing,” Karimanski said. He added that investment alternatives in Bulgaria are very limited and unpopular.

According to Karimanski, people could invest in government bonds, which offer good returns. Newly approved mortgage loans this month have reached just over BGN 1.2 billion, marking a 22% increase compared to May. On an annual basis, mortgage lending has surged by more than 36%.

TRAFFIC CRACKDOWN

24 Chasa reports on recent amendments to the Penal Code that introduce significantly harsher penalties for traffic offenses leading to injury or death. As of Sunday, drivers involved in fatal accidents under particularly severe circumstances may face life imprisonment, the heaviest sentence under Bulgarian law. Penalties for causing serious or moderate bodily harm have also increased, with prison terms ranging from 1 to 10 years depending on factors such driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, speeding, fleeing the scene of an accident, or running a red light. Driving with over 1.2‰ BAC now carries 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine of BGN 1,000–5,000, while repeat offenders and drug-impaired drivers face up to 5 years and BGN 10,000. Refusal to undergo testing leads to prison terms of up to 1 year and fines of up to BGN 2,500 if an accident is involved. 

The changes have sparked criticism from legal experts, who argue that equating negligent and intentional offenses contradicts core legal principles. Critics point out that the punishment for causing death in a traffic accident can now match or exceed the penalty for intentional murder under Article 115. In an interview with 24 Chasa, Vladimir Todorov, head of the Bulgarian Association of Road Accident Victims, described the amendments as legally and morally questionable. “In cases of intentional homicide using a vehicle, the penalty is 10 to 20 years in prison. However, under the new amendments, the same sentence range now applies to non-intentional cases as well, eliminating the distinction between the two. This contradicts a core legal principle, that intentional crimes should carry harsher penalties,” Todorov said.

JUVENILE JUSTICE 

Dnevnik.bg examines Bulgaria’s system for handling children in conflict with the law as part of a broader concept of juvenile justice, which remains stalled and uncertain despite multiple promises and reform attempts. The current focus is on measures targeting so-called “local gangs”, youth groups involved in public attacks, with Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev calling for modernization of outdated legislation. Experts describe the system as “very poor” and “burdensome,” highlighting the lack of a comprehensive approach that treats children not only punitively but also with understanding and support. Bulgaria operates two parallel systems: a criminal justice system for children over 14, and a system inherited from socialism aimed at combating antisocial behaviour among younger minors, relying mostly on supervisory measures, warnings, and placement in institutions. According to the National Statistical Institute, in 2024 over 8,400 children were registered in juvenile pedagogical offices, with most sanctions involving educational supervision, warnings, or community service, while harsher institutional measures remain rare. 

Bulgaria’s representative to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Velina Todorova said: "Every child who breaks the law is a failure of the system, of the adults, and of society." She notes that the causes almost always lie in the family environment, poverty, lack of access to education, or psychosocial support. Unfortunately, institutions in Bulgaria often "push these children into the backyard of the state," especially when it comes to children from marginalized and highly vulnerable groups, she adds.

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Trud’s main article is about growing concerns around the escalating conflicts over parental rights following separation or divorce, described by experts and advocacy groups as a “war zone” created by contradictions in the Family Code. The organization Fathers’ Voice claims that legislative gaps and systemic bias lead to discrimination against fathers, with courts awarding custody to mothers in over 90% of cases. According to the group, over 10 rulings against Bulgaria by the European Court of Human Rights point to the state’s failure to protect family life and enforce court decisions ensuring parent-child contact. Legal experts argue that the overlapping provisions in the Family Code, lack of definition for parental rights, and the influence of the Domestic Violence Act contribute to legal chaos. They claim that the Act contains unconstitutional elements and overrides civil court rulings, often to the detriment of fathers. Psychologist Eleonora Yordanova warns that the system encourages adversarial behaviour, with each parent trying to "defeat" the other at the expense of the child’s well-being. 

TOURISM

Duma’s front-page article cites Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova who highlights the sharp decline in Russian tourism to Bulgaria, which has dropped tenfold over the past six years. In 2024, just over 50,000 Russian nationals visited the country, compared to over half a million annually before 2019. Mitrofanova attributed the drop to the lack of direct flights and the EU’s suspension of the bilateral visa facilitation agreement. She also echoed remarks by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stating that EU sanctions and the termination of energy cooperation with Moscow have cost the European Union over one trillion euro in economic losses.

ARTIFICIAL REEF

Bulgarian National Radio, BNT and Nova report that an old fishing vessel “Chavdar”, was deliberately sunk off the coast of Sozopol to become an an artificial reef. The ship, which served as a fishing vessel since 1964, will now serve as an artificial reef, providing habitat for marine life, supporting scientific research, and promoting diving tourism. This initiative follows a similar project over 15 years ago, when the vessel “Pioneer’ was sunk near Sozopol, marking the beginning of a long-term effort to create artificial habitats for sea creatures.