site.btaMedia Review: October 3

BULGARIA FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER

Abundant rainfall and snowfall surprised Bulgaria on Friday, creating a number of problems across the country. For a second consecutive day, heavy snow continues to fall at the Petrohan Pass in the Balkan Mountains – the shortest route connecting the northwestern regions of Montana and Vidin to Sofia. On Friday morning, it was completely closed. Meanwhile, villages in Northwest and Southwest Bulgaria have experienced power outages caused by the wet snow.

In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, geographer Emil Gachev from the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences noted that precipitation of such amounts in such a short periods of time is inevitably associated with flooding. “It is really difficult to respond adequately in such a situation because it’s never exactly clear where the disaster will occur. What I hope is that the necessary lessons have been learned from two years ago, and that this time the situation won’t result in casualties,” he added. Gachev emphasized that efforts should be made to increase the capacity of drainage infrastructure, but pointed out that with such quantities of rain as those falling in Tsarevo (50–60 liters per square meter per hour), the facilities cannot cope.

On Bulgarian National Television’s morning show, the head of the Weather Forecasting Department at the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Anastasia Stoycheva, pointed out that in some places the country’s infrastructure creates conditions for disasters. "A Mediterranean cyclone, very well developed at all levels of the atmosphere, is moving across the Balkans. It is moving very slowly and allows precipitation to accumulate. We are currently in the middle of the situation, and another 24 hours of rainfall lie ahead," she added.

On bTV’s morning show, meteorologist Krasimir Stoev from the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology said that the center of the cyclone is still far from Bulgaria and the situation is yet to become more complicated. "The situation today in most parts will deteriorate because the center of the cyclone is still in the Aegean Sea. It is yet to pass through the straits toward the Black Sea or part of Eastern Bulgaria," explained Stoev. Starting on Saturday, the weather is expected to begin improving from the west, but another similar process is expected next week.

In an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, Tsarevo Mayor Marin Kirov said that rainfall levels were higher than during the previous disaster in the area, which claimed four lives in 2023. He added that all people had been evacuated from potentially dangerous areas and urged citizens throughout the municipality to stay indoors.

Telegraph also covered the story, reporting that between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., over 400 liters per square meter had fallen in the region.

SARAFOV – LEGITIMATE ACTING PROSECUTOR GENERAL OR NOT?

Another topic covered widely in the media on Friday is the questioned legitimacy of Borislav Sarafov’s position as acting Prosecutor General. On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC) refused to initiate proceedings on requests filed by the acting Prosecutor General for the resumption of criminal proceedings as a recent amendment to the Judicial System Act stipulates that a temporary replacement to the prosecutor general, the president of the Supreme Court of Cassation or the president of the Supreme Administrative Court may not be appointed for a period longer than six months, regardless of any interruption. The court notes that the six-month period from the entry into force of the provision expired on July 21, 2025. Later, the prosecution service said that this decision has no consequences for acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov as there is a deliberate decision by the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which can be overturned by the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC), not by the SCC.

On bTV’s morning show, SJC Judges Chamber member Atanaska Disheva called the SCC decision “completely justified.” “Such a decision had long been expected – whether from the Supreme Court of Cassation or another body that had been approached by Mr. Sarafov with the claim that he was acting as Prosecutor General. It’s good that this finally happened, because this period of legal limbo simply had to end somehow,” she added.

On the same show, constitutional law PhD Petar Slavov, political analyst Slavi Vasilev, and political PR expert Nidal Algafari also commented on the situation. “This is something lawyers had been warning about since July 21 – that it would happen. And that day has come. We were right, and clearly action is needed. The big question here isn’t whether Sarafov will continue to receive a salary, but that a number of key powers held by the Prosecutor General, after this decision, could be called into question and potentially blocked,” said Slavov. “A new SJC must finally be elected and MPs need to fulfill their duty,” he added. Vasilev described the case as “an element of the total collapse of institutions and the destabilization of the State.” According to him, a political situation is emerging in which those in power are trying to hold on through forceful means. He added that in his view, politicians have extended their reach into the judicial system, because it is the National Assembly that must decide on the new SJC. Algafari opposed the idea that there is political influence over judicial structures. “I don’t see who would be interfering with the work of the prosecution, the bar, the courts, etc.,” he argued. “I have not seen any evidence showing that [GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko] Borissov, [MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan] Peevski, or [President Rumen] Radev control these institutions. People throw around such claims just like that,” he said.

On Nova Television’s morning show, the story was commented on by lawyers Velislav Velichkov and Dimitar Markovski. According to Velichkov, Sarafov is an illegitimate acting Prosecutor General and has no right to sign acts, move case files, or request the lifting of MPs’ immunity. In his words, all actions taken by Sarafov after the six-month term are legally null and void. The experts warn that this creates a serious risk of blocking criminal proceedings, including high-profile cases of significant public interest. “We have a problem with legislative technique. The law states that no one can serve as acting Prosecutor General for more than six months. Unfortunately, the transitional provisions did not clarify whether this also applies to those already holding the position,” said Markovski. He believes that there is a constitutional crisis, and the problem lies in the ambiguities and lack of a precise legal text regarding the status of the “pre-existing situation.”

On Bulgarian National Television’s morning show, former Constitutional Court judge Plamen Kirov stated that the SCC decision has brought a new perspective to the case. “It should not be assumed that the Supreme Court of Cassation has somehow dismissed Mr. Sarafov from the post of acting Prosecutor General,” he stressed but added that the decisions of the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the SJC could be challenged in terms of their legality before the Supreme Administrative Court.

On the same show, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria MP Vasil Pandov said that the fact Sarafov is still acting Prosecutor General is one of the reasons the country is receiving criticism from the European Union and the Council of Europe. Pandov emphasized that Bulgaria is in a constitutional crisis. “We do not have a Prosecutor General because of the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the SJC and the Minister of Justice,” he added.

POLITICS

Trud features an interview with sociologist Elena Darieva from the sociological agency Nasoca. “Political tension has been visibly intensifying in recent days. The feeling of instability is fueled by quarrels between party leaders, but most of all by the inability of political elites to take responsibility and manage complex political situations,” she said. At present, less than a quarter of respondents surveyed by the agency give positive ratings for the government’s performance, while about two-thirds of eligible voters rate it negatively. “Power is still stable, but the frictions within the government are becoming increasingly apparent to the public. For now, mutual interest holds the governing parties together, but the Cabinet's stability could crack if public discontent escalates and leads to a social explosion,” Darieva added. “Boyko Borissov’s claim that there are currently five prime ministers is a clear symptom of a leadership crisis, but on the other hand, it also shows GERB’s refusal - as the mandate-holder - to take sole and direct political responsibility for governing,” she said. The majority of Bulgarian citizens, on the threshold of eurozone accession and following a long series of snap parliamentary elections, do not want new early parliamentary elections, the sociologist noted. “The key question, from a political standpoint, is who stands to gain from new elections - who benefits from the passage of time. A possible new political project, as is being speculated, would be most effectively positioned in a national vote. I’m speaking of a presidential political project. In a national vote, the focus falls on the leader, not on local issues. In that sense, the upcoming presidential elections next year and the local elections in October 2027 are both poor scenarios for a political debut. If we look at it from the politicians’ point of view - who would benefit from triggering early parliamentary elections – it is not the currently existing political formations,” Darieva said.

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Mediapool features an article on the National Assembly’s decision to strip President Rumen Radev of the authority to appoint the heads of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), the State Intelligence Agency, and the State Agency for Technical Operations. After the changes - adopted with the votes of GERB-UDF, BSP - United Left, There Is Such a People, and Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning - these positions will now be elected by the National Assembly upon a proposal from the Council of Ministers. The changes were supposed to pass only on first reading, but were pushed through by the ruling coalition and finally adopted on Thursday evening, the media outlet points out. The situation arose after Radev refused to appoint Denyo Denev, who had been proposed by the Government, as SANS Chair. The head of State said that the candidate was "[MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader] Delyan Peevski's man." This effectively reverses the situation that allowed Peevski to be appointed head of SANS in 2013, the article reads. The requirement for a presidential decree was the most significant lever of influence for the head of State and involves a coordination procedure, which is currently blocked due to tensions between the institutions. As a result, SANS has no chairperson, as Denyo Denev is acting Chair - he can now be appointed as regular Chair. Mediapool quotes Radev as saying that “the services will be exploited and will serve those in power”: “Not only to manipulate elections, not only to cover up theft and looting, as has happened in many cases, but also to fabricate smear campaigns against inconvenient people and to suppress any potential opposition.” The President added that the judicial system has already been harnessed for these purposes. “Now the very same Peevski, whom people once protested against, is taking over the security services with his allied parties. This destroys the balance between institutions,” Radev said. National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova (BSP – United Left) said that the changes are necessary in order to overcome the deadlock in appointing the heads of the agencies.

BULGARIAN DETAINED BY ISRAEL

On Nova Television’s morning show, Arabist Prof. Vladimir Chukov commented on the situation with the Bulgarian citizen detained by Israeli authorities during an operation against the Sumud flotilla. “As a citizen of a country with normal relations with Israel, he will be classified as an illegal migrant and will be deported,” Chukov explained. According to him, the main debate is whether Israel’s intervention against the flotilla was carried out in international waters or in Israeli territorial waters - a question that remains legally unclear. According to the professor, Israel typically classifies detainees into two categories - “illegal migrants” and “linked to terrorist activity.” He expects the Bulgarian participant to fall into the first category. He added that the other detainees, especially those who do not voluntarily sign deportation papers, may be subjected to longer procedures and even charges. Particular attention will be paid to the fate of political figures on board, including a former mayor of Barcelona and Members of the European Parliament. Chukov expects the case to be resolved within a few days - at least as far as the Bulgarian citizen is concerned. “Bulgaria has no interest in confrontation, and our position is balanced. I expect a quick resolution to the case with Mr. Dimitrov. The Spanish citizens may find themselves in a more complicated situation.”

SPORT

24 Chasa features an extensive interview with former volleyball player Vladimir Nikolov, father of FIVB World Championships 2025 silver medalists Aleksandar Nikolov and Simeon Nikolov. The former national team captain and current president of volleyball club Levski Sofia turned 48 on Friday. He admitted that he had never received such a grand surprise on the eve of his birthday as this one - Bulgaria’s second-place finish in the Philippines. Vladimir Nikolov wished that by his 50th birthday, the country will have already qualified for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.