site.btaVazrazhdane MP Yanchev: BTA Is Benchmark for Journalism in Bulgaria

During a discussion of the report on the activities of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Parliament on Friday, Vazrazhdane MP Angel Yanchev praised BTA for being the benchmark for journalism in Bulgaria. The report included BTA's financial activities for 2024.

Yanchev said: "BTA's 2024 report was unanimously adopted with 127 votes. I believe that today this majority will be unanimous again because the agency deserves it, because it is a tribune for all and objectively reflects all points of view."

The MP pointed out that the Agency has press clubs both in administrative centres and in smaller towns, while a new club is scheduled to open in the capital of Greece, which will give a voice to the local Bulgarian community. He proceeded to criticize some private media for relying on funds from the US Department of State and from Brussels, then praised BTA for being entirely funded by the Bulgarian state budget, even though "it is insufficient".

Yanchev stated: "In 2025 and in the years to come, BTA does not need to be cut, as is the trend of the ruling majority and the Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Culture and Media [There Is Such a People MP Toshko Yordanov], but it needs another 60 people, in order to reach 400, i.e. half of those who worked there in the late 80s." Yanchev praised BTA Director General Kiril Valchev for "bearing the whole responsibility over the past years and for this successful leadership".