site.bta Press - Review
ESD 02:58:31 14-02-2022
DT0255ES.101
101 BULGARIA - PRESS REVIEW
Press
-
Review
Sofia, February 14 (BTA) -
POLITICS
Trud writes that Deputy Prosecutor General Daniela Masheva has signed an opinion by which the state prosecution refuses to approve the bill on the closure of specialized justice.The lack of specialized courts, prosecutors and investigative bodies is a retreat from Bulgaria's path to Europe and the project is only in the interest of defendants, the daily writes. The opinion of the prosecuting magistracy states that the motives set out in the bill are untenable, in some respects illogical, and in connection with the work of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in organized crime cases, there are not even any motives.
Trud writes that the Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) have sent a signal for the so-called ''golden passports (citizenship in exchange for large investment) affair to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and to EU Justice Commissioner Vera Yurova. The signal states that in the period from 2015 to 2021, more than 120 people, mostly Chinese working for the Chinese special services, as well as several Russians, received Bulgarian citizenship and the right to reside without verification. The signal also indicates the reluctance of the government to verify the data and to confiscate the illegally issued passports.
Trud, Monitor, Telegraf, Duma and 24 Chasa quote MRF MP Yordan Tsonev who cited information that one of the possibilities for a Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) governor nomination by the government is financist Ilian Mihov, brother of Valentin Mihov, who was appointed chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bulgarian Development Bank personally by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov while he was still acting Minister of Economy. Mihov is a professor of Macroeconomics and Econometrics and Rector of INSEAD, a business university with campuses in France and Singapore. At one time Ivo Prokopiev had gone to study there, said Tsonev. In Bulgaria, Mihov became famous for his idea of modifying the currency board at a time when the only thing political forces agreed on was maintaining the currency board, which was established after the crisis of 1996-1997 and managed to stop hyperinflation. In September 2009, Mihov proposed to "modify" the currency board regime according to a model applied by China in 2003. His theory was met with resistance not only among politicians, but also by the majority of macroeconomists in Bulgaria. The procedure for electing a new BNB governor has already started and in the next 20 days parliamentary groups can propose candidates. The six-year term of the current Governor of the BNB, Dimitar Radev, expired on July 15, 2021. However, due to the parliamentary elections held last year, the appointment of a new governor was left for the time after the formation of a regular cabinet.
Trud writes a scathing article full of buzzwords against Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, arguing that since he can't provide "bread and circuses", as bread has gone up to 2.50 leva, he is opting to provide circuses in the form of fights against corruption. Trud argues that making accusations against businessman Delyan Peevski has become the go-to when the government is in trouble, but points out that accusations against other well-known oligarchs, like Ivo Prokopiev, Tsvetan Vassilev, and others, are noticeably missing. The daily recalls that young Boyko Borissov in the beginning of his rule, was also very rampant against corruption. The article also points out that Interior MInister Boyko Rashov also has a checkered past, noting media investigations into his inexplicable wealth and accusations of connections with underground bosses. This was all in connection to Prime Minister Petkov's information provided to the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office regarding 19 persons who allegedly perpetrated serious criminal and economic offences.
Telegraf quotes former finance minister Vladislav Goranov, who is one of the 19 people singled out by Petkov, who said: "In Bulgaria, a social experiment has long been conducted with unclear consequences. Part of this experiment was the speech of the Prime Minister yesterday. Immediately after the scandal with Bozhkov's unpaid taxes, the prosecution conducted several interrogations with me. So in that sense, the institution has done its job,'' said Goranov.
Monitor and 24 Chasa write that the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party re-elected leader Atanas Atanassov at its 17th national conference here on Saturday. The party reaffirmed its participation in the government coalition as part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition. Atanassov was backed by 288 out of 490 delegates. 24 Chasa writes the title: ''Atanassov to Change DSB, but Not Himself. The daily also writes about changes in the leadership of the VMRO party, as leader Krassimir Karakachanov stepped down and was replaced by Angel Dzhambazki, Iskren Vesselinov and Alexander Sidi. The party called for forming a federation with North Macedonia based on the common historical and cultural heritage.
Monitor publishes an interview with Social Minister Georgi Gyokov, who talks about the 2022 State Budget, aid for vulnerable groups, measures for increasing investments, finding ways to increase pensions, maternity leave payments, aid for families with children and social policy goals as a whole.
24 Chasa publishes a detailed look at the need to reduce the number of municipalities, after behind brought up in Parliament by the head of the Regional Policy Committee Yordan Teziiski. 24 Chasa takes a look at the data, reform proposals and even history of the municipality unit and notes that, in any case, the state will aim to provide access to hospitals and schools for everyone.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Telegraf writes that the Foreign Ministry has set up a crisis centre which has been monitoring the situation in and around Ukraine round the clock and is ready to put into action the evacuation protocol. The Foreign Ministry has already asked the Bulgarian citizens on Ukrainian territory to leave the country with the currently available means of transportation. "About 40 people have registered through the Ministry's internet platform with their phone numbers and whereabouts in Ukraine so that we can contact them in the event of evacuation," said Mitko Dimitrov, Director of the Ministry's Press Centre Directorate. Telegraf also writes of the United States is considering sending additional US forces on a rotating basis on NATO's eastern flank in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the Washington Post reported, citing official sources from the United States and Europe. Romania is on its way to be the first host of a permenant NATO base in the eastern part of the southern flank with 1,000 US troops. The matter of a Bulgarian battalion will be discussed at the National Security Advisory council convened by the President.
COVID-19
Telegraf writes of an imminent second peak of the fifth COVID wave, according to mathematician Lachezar Tomov. He explained that the percentage of vaccinated in this country is still extremely low. Tomov said that if these levels are maintained, the entire population of Bulgaria will be affected by the virus and its new variant.
Trud and Duma write that all students in Sofia will return to school on Monday, as well as in the regions of Stara Zagora and Haskovo. The school principals in the capital are ready with the necessary organization, an inspection by Trud showed. The principals determine the return of all students as a bold decision. According to them, testing for COVID is already routine for teachers and children, unfortunately. However, one of the biggest concerns about in-person classes is still the number of absent teachers.
ECONOMY
Monitor, Telegraf and 24 Chasa quote Stanislav Todorov, the new chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), who said that by the end of the moratorium, the EWRC should be ready with analyses that will give a clear idea of where prices are going. ''The unique situation in our country is that we are in last place in the transition to lower carbon energy sources, but this is in favor of Bulgarian consumers, because we have many power plants that operate on coal - local fuel, and the cost of electricity is lower than that of gas-fired power," explained Todorov. "There is no deficit at the moment, there is no strong reason for prices to rise after the lifting of the moratorium," he added.
Duma quotes Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov, who said that the Ministry will allocate 150 million leva more in support of Bulgarian producers in several sectors. Ivanov pointed out that the sector is facing serious difficulties. He added that he has launched a notification for 111 million in aid under the COVID measure, which will be paid to producers by the end of June. The Minister of Agriculture also drew attention to the bankruptcies among domestic producers. "Out of 900 hectares of greenhouses, 200 are heated,'' he explained, adding: We call on producers not to stop their activities, because the state will support those who have the capacity and ability to produce''. Bulgarian production remains a priority, and the focus will be on unfair competition for imports from third countries, said Ivanov. Regarding the problems in the livestock sector and threats of national protest, Ivanov explained that the problems are due to last year's political crisis.
Trud writes that in the middle of the active winter sports and tourist season, hotels in the resorts of Chepelare, Pamporovo and Stoykite have closed because they cannot pay their unbearable electricity bills. In Chepelare alone, 5 hotels have already closed, including the largest Chepelare, on the square in the centre. And in Stoykite and Pamporovo the number is even higher, with more probably following suit.
Telegraf reports that many churches in the country have stopped heating due to high electricity bills, and monasteries have even restricted cooking with electrical appliances. Priests in the churches say they have no special order from the diocese to save electricity, but because they pay for their own electricity, they decide for themselves how much to use.
Monitor reports that at the end of December, the money in circulation reached 24.696 billion leva. The value of coins in circulation increased to 517.8 million leva at the end of last year, up from 483.8 million leva in 2020.
Society
Telegraf writes that almost 100 babies have been abandoned in hospitals for the two years of the pandemic. Almost 500 others were also at risk, but their mothers reconsidered, Agency for Social Assistance data shows. DT//
/DT/
DT0255ES.101
101 BULGARIA - PRESS REVIEW
Press
-
Review
Sofia, February 14 (BTA) -
POLITICS
Trud writes that Deputy Prosecutor General Daniela Masheva has signed an opinion by which the state prosecution refuses to approve the bill on the closure of specialized justice.The lack of specialized courts, prosecutors and investigative bodies is a retreat from Bulgaria's path to Europe and the project is only in the interest of defendants, the daily writes. The opinion of the prosecuting magistracy states that the motives set out in the bill are untenable, in some respects illogical, and in connection with the work of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in organized crime cases, there are not even any motives.
Trud writes that the Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) have sent a signal for the so-called ''golden passports (citizenship in exchange for large investment) affair to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and to EU Justice Commissioner Vera Yurova. The signal states that in the period from 2015 to 2021, more than 120 people, mostly Chinese working for the Chinese special services, as well as several Russians, received Bulgarian citizenship and the right to reside without verification. The signal also indicates the reluctance of the government to verify the data and to confiscate the illegally issued passports.
Trud, Monitor, Telegraf, Duma and 24 Chasa quote MRF MP Yordan Tsonev who cited information that one of the possibilities for a Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) governor nomination by the government is financist Ilian Mihov, brother of Valentin Mihov, who was appointed chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Bulgarian Development Bank personally by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov while he was still acting Minister of Economy. Mihov is a professor of Macroeconomics and Econometrics and Rector of INSEAD, a business university with campuses in France and Singapore. At one time Ivo Prokopiev had gone to study there, said Tsonev. In Bulgaria, Mihov became famous for his idea of modifying the currency board at a time when the only thing political forces agreed on was maintaining the currency board, which was established after the crisis of 1996-1997 and managed to stop hyperinflation. In September 2009, Mihov proposed to "modify" the currency board regime according to a model applied by China in 2003. His theory was met with resistance not only among politicians, but also by the majority of macroeconomists in Bulgaria. The procedure for electing a new BNB governor has already started and in the next 20 days parliamentary groups can propose candidates. The six-year term of the current Governor of the BNB, Dimitar Radev, expired on July 15, 2021. However, due to the parliamentary elections held last year, the appointment of a new governor was left for the time after the formation of a regular cabinet.
Trud writes a scathing article full of buzzwords against Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, arguing that since he can't provide "bread and circuses", as bread has gone up to 2.50 leva, he is opting to provide circuses in the form of fights against corruption. Trud argues that making accusations against businessman Delyan Peevski has become the go-to when the government is in trouble, but points out that accusations against other well-known oligarchs, like Ivo Prokopiev, Tsvetan Vassilev, and others, are noticeably missing. The daily recalls that young Boyko Borissov in the beginning of his rule, was also very rampant against corruption. The article also points out that Interior MInister Boyko Rashov also has a checkered past, noting media investigations into his inexplicable wealth and accusations of connections with underground bosses. This was all in connection to Prime Minister Petkov's information provided to the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office regarding 19 persons who allegedly perpetrated serious criminal and economic offences.
Telegraf quotes former finance minister Vladislav Goranov, who is one of the 19 people singled out by Petkov, who said: "In Bulgaria, a social experiment has long been conducted with unclear consequences. Part of this experiment was the speech of the Prime Minister yesterday. Immediately after the scandal with Bozhkov's unpaid taxes, the prosecution conducted several interrogations with me. So in that sense, the institution has done its job,'' said Goranov.
Monitor and 24 Chasa write that the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) party re-elected leader Atanas Atanassov at its 17th national conference here on Saturday. The party reaffirmed its participation in the government coalition as part of the Democratic Bulgaria coalition. Atanassov was backed by 288 out of 490 delegates. 24 Chasa writes the title: ''Atanassov to Change DSB, but Not Himself. The daily also writes about changes in the leadership of the VMRO party, as leader Krassimir Karakachanov stepped down and was replaced by Angel Dzhambazki, Iskren Vesselinov and Alexander Sidi. The party called for forming a federation with North Macedonia based on the common historical and cultural heritage.
Monitor publishes an interview with Social Minister Georgi Gyokov, who talks about the 2022 State Budget, aid for vulnerable groups, measures for increasing investments, finding ways to increase pensions, maternity leave payments, aid for families with children and social policy goals as a whole.
24 Chasa publishes a detailed look at the need to reduce the number of municipalities, after behind brought up in Parliament by the head of the Regional Policy Committee Yordan Teziiski. 24 Chasa takes a look at the data, reform proposals and even history of the municipality unit and notes that, in any case, the state will aim to provide access to hospitals and schools for everyone.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Telegraf writes that the Foreign Ministry has set up a crisis centre which has been monitoring the situation in and around Ukraine round the clock and is ready to put into action the evacuation protocol. The Foreign Ministry has already asked the Bulgarian citizens on Ukrainian territory to leave the country with the currently available means of transportation. "About 40 people have registered through the Ministry's internet platform with their phone numbers and whereabouts in Ukraine so that we can contact them in the event of evacuation," said Mitko Dimitrov, Director of the Ministry's Press Centre Directorate. Telegraf also writes of the United States is considering sending additional US forces on a rotating basis on NATO's eastern flank in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as the Washington Post reported, citing official sources from the United States and Europe. Romania is on its way to be the first host of a permenant NATO base in the eastern part of the southern flank with 1,000 US troops. The matter of a Bulgarian battalion will be discussed at the National Security Advisory council convened by the President.
COVID-19
Telegraf writes of an imminent second peak of the fifth COVID wave, according to mathematician Lachezar Tomov. He explained that the percentage of vaccinated in this country is still extremely low. Tomov said that if these levels are maintained, the entire population of Bulgaria will be affected by the virus and its new variant.
Trud and Duma write that all students in Sofia will return to school on Monday, as well as in the regions of Stara Zagora and Haskovo. The school principals in the capital are ready with the necessary organization, an inspection by Trud showed. The principals determine the return of all students as a bold decision. According to them, testing for COVID is already routine for teachers and children, unfortunately. However, one of the biggest concerns about in-person classes is still the number of absent teachers.
ECONOMY
Monitor, Telegraf and 24 Chasa quote Stanislav Todorov, the new chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), who said that by the end of the moratorium, the EWRC should be ready with analyses that will give a clear idea of where prices are going. ''The unique situation in our country is that we are in last place in the transition to lower carbon energy sources, but this is in favor of Bulgarian consumers, because we have many power plants that operate on coal - local fuel, and the cost of electricity is lower than that of gas-fired power," explained Todorov. "There is no deficit at the moment, there is no strong reason for prices to rise after the lifting of the moratorium," he added.
Duma quotes Agriculture Minister Ivan Ivanov, who said that the Ministry will allocate 150 million leva more in support of Bulgarian producers in several sectors. Ivanov pointed out that the sector is facing serious difficulties. He added that he has launched a notification for 111 million in aid under the COVID measure, which will be paid to producers by the end of June. The Minister of Agriculture also drew attention to the bankruptcies among domestic producers. "Out of 900 hectares of greenhouses, 200 are heated,'' he explained, adding: We call on producers not to stop their activities, because the state will support those who have the capacity and ability to produce''. Bulgarian production remains a priority, and the focus will be on unfair competition for imports from third countries, said Ivanov. Regarding the problems in the livestock sector and threats of national protest, Ivanov explained that the problems are due to last year's political crisis.
Trud writes that in the middle of the active winter sports and tourist season, hotels in the resorts of Chepelare, Pamporovo and Stoykite have closed because they cannot pay their unbearable electricity bills. In Chepelare alone, 5 hotels have already closed, including the largest Chepelare, on the square in the centre. And in Stoykite and Pamporovo the number is even higher, with more probably following suit.
Telegraf reports that many churches in the country have stopped heating due to high electricity bills, and monasteries have even restricted cooking with electrical appliances. Priests in the churches say they have no special order from the diocese to save electricity, but because they pay for their own electricity, they decide for themselves how much to use.
Monitor reports that at the end of December, the money in circulation reached 24.696 billion leva. The value of coins in circulation increased to 517.8 million leva at the end of last year, up from 483.8 million leva in 2020.
Society
Telegraf writes that almost 100 babies have been abandoned in hospitals for the two years of the pandemic. Almost 500 others were also at risk, but their mothers reconsidered, Agency for Social Assistance data shows. DT//
/DT/
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