site.btaBorissov: "No Need to Tout Bulgaria, We'll Show What We Are"

Sofia, January 10 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Wednesday criticized the removal Tuesday night of a billboard poster of the police who have scheduled protests for Thursday when EU leaders will be in the capital for the opening of Bulgaria's EU Presidency. Speaking at the Council of Ministers' meeting, the Prime Minister added that any number of billboards should be made available to the police.

Turning to EU Presidency Minister Liliyana Pavlova, Borissov said: "All billboards should be made available. Let anyone who has anything bad to say do so." There is no need to tout Bulgaria, "we will show what we are", he said.

The removed billboard poster was in English and informed about low pay in the Interior Ministry. The billboard owner quoted the media agency responsible for the content as saying the poster would promote an event.

Borissov said people had been quick to forget that billions of leva were paid out for the Russian-made equipment for the discarded Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, the US-owned thermal power plants and the failed Corporate Commercial Bank. He stressed that the ministries' budgets were the largest ever in 2017.

The Trade Union Federation of the Employees in the Ministry of Interior has turned down the government's offer to use until January 15 one of the billboards reserved for the EU Council Presidency, a press release said.

The Federation stated that it was much more important to do something about low pay which demotivates the work force.

The Prime Minister and the Interior Ministry's trade unions are meeting on Thursday to try to sort out low pay and discuss a strategy for public order, security and the Ministry's reform until 2030.