site.btaMedia Review: September 29

BRIBE SCANDAL AFTER ROBBIE WILLIAMS CONCERT

Mediapool reported that two employees of the Road Transport Administration (RTA) executive agency were arrested after demanding bribes from truck drivers transporting British pop star Robbie Williams' equipment for his Sunday concert in Sofia. The four trucks were stopped by a team from the agency as they entered the capital. After a tip-off to the Ministry of Interior and the British Embassy, the same employees were detained for 72 hours. The bribe was requested on Friday. No information has been released yet about the amount involved. The employees were detained a day later. Part of the money given to them was found in their possession.

In an interview with bTV, Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov said that the two RTA employees who demanded a bribe from pop star Robbie Williams' team had been dismissed. He added that they were long-term employees who had been hired by the RTA in 2012. "As Minister of Transport and Communications, I remain committed to the cause of cleaning up the system of inherited corrupt practices. We will continue to work actively and impartially in close cooperation with the Bulgarian prosecution and investigative authorities," Karadjov said.

24 Chasa writes that the bribe amounted to EUR 800. The daily quotes Sredets borough Mayor Traycho Traykov as saying that the RTA employees forced the drivers to go to an ATM as they did not have any cash on them.

POLITICS

On Nova Television’s morning show, political scientists Slavi Vasilev and Rumyana Kolarova commented on the tension between the President and the ruling majority and whether it means that the moment is approaching when the head of State will enter the party scene. "In Radev's second campaign, there was support from an oligarchic network. I am completely convinced that [there was such support] in the funding of the campaign. The first campaign was wonderful and carried on the shoulders of [actor and former culture minister] Stefan Danailov. The moment Rumen Radev sets out to become a political leader, these dependencies, which we do not talk about because he is now a president, will immediately come to light," Kolarova said. Vasilev described Radev as a person who can offer an alternative political project to "the ruling thugs who cause crisis after crisis." When asked who this party would cooperate with, since even as the leading force it is unlikely to have a majority, Vasilev pointed to Velichie, MECh, and Vazrazhdane.

Dnevnik.bg also covered the interview, noting that Slavi Vasilev was part of President Radev's team in 2017-2018 and is a constant advocate in the media for the idea of a new political project around the current head of State. "Today he said that he is keeping the focus on this topic alive because he believes it is the only alternative to the Borisov-Peevski government," the media outlet wrote.

In an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, political scientist Ivaylo Iliev stressed the lack of a political alternative to the current government. "We still do not see it, we do not recognize it. The image of President Radev in the last year or two has been constantly associated with this alternative. I am not sure whether the opportune moment has already passed, perhaps even several times. This is precisely why the ruling majority in its current form seems increasingly without alternative.” The water crisis is a topic on which a vote of no confidence could be initiated, Iliev believes. According to him, the Government continues to shift responsibility for the long-standing problems on this issue. "It is clear that the procedure is doomed in its current form," he added. He believes that the issue of the euro is gradually receding from the agenda.

WATER CRISIS

Trud features an interview with Prof. Emil Gachev, who works as a geographer in the Geography Department of the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy, and Geography with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He comments on the reasons why, on average, approximately 50% of drinking water in Bulgaria leaks and is lost through the water supply network. In some places, the figure reaches 80%. This means that out of every liter of water available, only 200 ml reaches consumers. By comparison, an average of 23% of water is lost in the EU. "Our infrastructure is outdated and has not been maintained over the years, which is why we have such huge losses of drinking water. In addition, we have a problem with how much water is taken from reservoirs and water catchments, a large part of which is unaccounted for, so even if we report consumer consumption, it is not a true reflection of the situation," Gachev said. "We have had a functioning High Advisory Council on Water for several years, and a Water Board was recently created, but these structures include ministers and MPs, i.e. politically engaged people. Those who can be useful in solving the problems are the experts - for example, hydraulic engineers, water supply and sewerage engineers, and others. I am puzzled by the creation of a second structure that duplicates the first. What is the reason for this - that the first one does not work? If the first one does not work, why are we creating a similar one and expecting it to work?" he added. Gachev stressed that there are no experts in the new National Water Board. He explained that nature has a natural cycle related to precipitation, which is the main climatic element responsible for the formation of water reserves. "From around 2005 to around 2016, Bulgaria experienced above-average rainfall. During this period, there was no water problem, and politicians invested funds in other projects. During those years, we managed with our inefficient system, but it was becoming increasingly worn out. We moved into the next cycle, with less rainfall. In fact, from 2019 to today, there has only been one year with above-average rainfall, and since 2022, we have been below average rainfall," he said.

Bulgarian National Television's morning show featured an interview with Pleven Mayor Valentin Hristov, who commented on the reasons for the water shortage in the region. He explained that projects for urban water cycles are not carried out by municipalities. “They are financed by the State. The water supply and sewerage company also participates. Water supply and sewerage companies can also participate in operational programs where clean water and sewer pipes are replaced. Pleven has missed two water cycles. The last water cycle was in 2016," he said. According to Hristov, networks in two villages in the municipality have been replaced and the treatment plant in Bozhuritsa has been repaired, but nothing else has been done since then. He specified that he had submitted projects to the Finance Ministry and Regional Development Ministry related to the replacement of the water supply and sewerage network, which is very outdated and leads to drastic water losses in the city - about 75-78%. The mayor added that according to water supply data, losses in the city were 52% in 2011. "Everything that citizens are forced to endure is a consequence of the long period of inaction," Hristov said categorically.

WORLD

In an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, journalist Vladimir Mitev commented on the elections in Moldova, which were won by the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity. "There are various problems in the country. It is called the poorest country in Europe. Over the past four years, inflation has reached 65%. To solve the many problems facing the country, the government and the president are pursuing a course towards the heart of the European Union (EU)," he stressed. "There is always a Russian threat in these elections, they are always seen geopolitically. If we look at it geopolitically, the EU has something to offer, while Russia does not seem to offer a very clear alternative. The only way forward is the EU - the results show this," he added.

Trud quotes Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Eleonora Mitrofanova's statement to Russian media, in which she says that Bulgaria plans to build the largest NATO base in the country as part of an intergovernmental agreement with Italy on defense cooperation. Mitrofanova claims that Bulgarian authorities have also repeatedly mentioned the need to prepare for a possible increase in NATO's contingent from 1,200 to 5,000 soldiers.

SPORTS

Bulgarian national volleyball team’s silver medals win at the World Championships dominates the media on Monday. Interviews with family members of the players can be seen across different media outlets.

Telegraph reports that two foreign betting companies have expressed interest in becoming the general sponsor of the Bulgarian football club Levski Sofia. Among those interested is a Bulgarian company. "First of all, however, Levski must first remain without a general sponsor. The current one [Palms Bet] has a contract with the club until 2026," the daily writes.