site.btaBSP-United Left Leader: BOTAS Contract Disadvantages Bulgaria, Political Inaction to Blame

The contract with BOTAS is disadvantageous for Bulgaria, and this is a fact known to everyone, said BSP - United Left Floor Leader Dragomir Stoynev on Thursday during a parliamentary debate, as quoted by the coalition’s press centre. "The main responsibility lies in politics - we must acknowledge that for four years, there was a lack of political dialogue and statesmanship. We allowed a period of stagnation during which caretaker governments signed agreements that were beyond their term in office," he underscored.

Stoynev expressed his concern over the financial condition of State-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz and called on the Minister of Energy to initiate a thorough legal analysis. "The big question is what is happening with the agreement with Azerbaijan. In the event of a severe crisis at Bulgargaz, preliminary talks with Azerbaijan must be held, lest something good for the country be permanently lost," he warned.

Stoynev noted that the agreement with Turkish company BOTAS is not the only negative outcome resulting from delays in decision-making. According to him, similar worrying trends are visible in sectors such as healthcare and education. He referred to a recent UNICEF report, which found that two-thirds of 15-year-olds in Bulgaria are functionally illiterate.

"Instead of focusing on national interests, every party is only serving its own. With caretaker government after caretaker government, this is the result," he said.

The BSP – United Left Floor Leader also expressed understanding toward the former CEO of Bulgargaz, Deniza Slateva, who, according to him, was not present at all negotiations and whose concerns about the BOTAS agreement were not sufficiently heard. "From here on, it is up to the competent authorities to give their assessment," he added.

"The good news today is that we have a regular government. Even though some of us were political opponents and didn’t communicate, we have shaken hands in the name of the State," Stoynev said. He added that there is still room in the current political configuration for others who are willing to prioritize the national interest over party agendas.