site.btaMedia Review: May 19

PROSECUTION SERVICE CONTROVERSY

In its cover story entitled "War of the Godfathers", Capital Weekly covers the latest developments in the prosecution service. The war between Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev, his deputy Borislav Sarafov and their traditional mentor parties GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) proved Prof. Zhivko Stalev's conclusion that "a State without the rule of law is a form of organized crime" undoubtedly right.

The weekly notes that "the exchange between the Prosecutor General and his deputy made it clear that political bosses interact with the prosecution service through threats or offers of posts. And the prosecutor, in turn, keeps them in suspense by cases of investigations that drag on for years or are dismissed 'urgently'. It sounds like pulp fiction, but what we have heard from key figures in the State is true: a Prosecutor General fears for his life after turning down an ambassadorial post offered by the country's leading party. His deputy, on the other hand, asked for and received protection from the State because he 'knows the methods' of his boss. And the recurring element in the recriminations traded at the top of the prosecution service was that politicians would 'keep up the pressure' on the public prosecution so as to 'keep on stealing'," Capital Weekly comments.

"The context of this 'inter-institutional dialogue' are the missing convictions for high-level corruption, on the one hand and, on the other, the fierce (years-long) resistance of GERB and the MRF to even the slightest reforms that would make it possible to emancipate the prosecution service from political influence."

"The most frequently asked question this week, understandably, is what comes next. No one has an answer. And it seems largely counterproductive to seek a rational explanation in the absence of access to the backroom."

"For now, the only thing that is indisputably clear are the publicly confirmed facts about the mutual dependencies between a Prosecutor General, a former prime minister, a political party that 'betrayed' Geshev, and the investigative structures in Bulgaria. All of them have illustrated to the media their interconnectedness and embarked on a battle for survival," the weekly writes.

"The facade disguising the captured state fell off this week. Many normal people are certainly struggling to explain the motives behind the ugly scenes that followed the so-called assassination attempt against the Prosecutor General.

"But the meaning of what has been talked about for many years but has not happened - judicial reform - is becoming increasingly clear to them. To the extent that everyone understands that Geshev's removal from the prosecution service and Sarafov's removal from the investigation service will not change anything. Such an end to the scandal, unprecedented even for Bulgaria, would mean nothing but another political agreement on the continued domination of the judiciary system, from which everyone hopes to get justice."

***

"Geshev will not give up easily. If he goes down, he will drag others with him," Prof. Petar Cholakov of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Philosophy and Sociology said Friday morning in a Bulgarian National Radio interview. In his opinion, the changes must go deeper than a single person, that of the Prosecutor General."I am pessimistic about the development of the Bulgarian political system. The judiciary institutions are part of the political institutions. Although the judiciary should be independent, it interferes seriously in politics and is subject to influence from other political institutions," the expert commented.

He explained that the tone had hardened a lot both on the part of Geshev and the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
 
"Boyko Borissov seemed worried when he had to comment on this action of Geshev, who tore apart his resignation letter. Perhaps he did not want to get into such a confrontation with the Prosecutor General. The President took the bull by the horns and said that the SJC complement should be renewed because its term has expired, but the political parties are delaying changes there," Cholakov commented. 

He is convinced that there will be disclosures regarding the Prosecutor General.
 
"It is likely that Geshev will bring to light dependencies of people in the SJC on political entities and leaders. The scandals will deepen. The tone of the political talk will become even more acerbic. There will be an earthquake, several heads will roll."

Cholakov, however, is pessimistic that the political system will suddenly clear itself of corruption. "For decades we will have serious problems with corruption and personnel. We can hope they will be much less than today."

The interviewee did not rule out the possibility of Geshev seeking a political career.
 
"In recent months he has been doing a lot of PR to project an image as a pillar of the State and a fighter against corruption. If it comes to his early dismissal by the SJC, he has an option of returning as a regular prosecutor and carrying on the fight there. If he is expelled from the prosecution service, he may start political projects. There are numerous options, but dramatic times lie ahead."

***

"I don't know who is holding what. We will see ugly sights and, unfortunately, not only us. When you mistrust a country, it affects foreign investors," Nelly Kutskova, former judge and ex-SJC member, commented to bTV Friday morning on the Geshev scandal.

She added that it is normal to have contacts between the executive and the judiciary - but when it comes to working groups and draft laws.

Kutskova said that the SJC has been under political pressure for decades. She recalled that there had been such pressure for the election of Nikola Filchev as prosecutor general at the time when she was a SJC member.

"Now things are more blatant and topped with the use of language that is almost thuggish," she said.

***

Appearing on Nova TV Friday morning, SJC member Atanaska Disheva said that "Prosecutor General Geshev is exposing himself through his behaviour but does not realize it because recording other persons during a private conversation without warning them and without asking for their explicit consent is undoubtedly a violation of a fundamental principle in the constitution". Disheva commented on Geshev's statements before the SJC, when he threatened to disclose magistrates political ties. "It is not clear to me whether Geshev realizes what he is actually doing when he says these things in public. He probably pursues some other purpose, that is quite possible," Disheva said.

CABINET-FORMING NEGOTIATIONS

A signed analysis in Capital Weekly notes that Geshev's attack has weakened Borissov's position and has faced him with a choice of backing a second-mandate cabinet or precipitating yet another round of early elections. By her bid to oust the Prosecutor General, GERB prime minister designate Mariya Gabriel tried to pull the judicial reform rug from under Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and to pressure the coalition into supporting her for the first mandate or at least agree to have GERB as an official partner on the second mandate. Borissov, though, underestimated Geshev about his refusal to become a scapegoat of GERB and the MRF. Korneliya Ninova's statement that the Socialists will not back a Gabriel cabinet eliminated GERB's chance of putting together a government backed by the MRF and BSP for Bulgaria. The Socialists' giving up power-sharing with Borissov may spare them adverse effects, now that he is toxic again if Geshev discloses information about various investigations against the GERB leader.   

***

Interviewed in 24 Chasa, Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) National Council member Kaloyan Pargov says he expects another round of parliamentary elections in early September because GERB wants to outsmart Continue the Change (CC), CC wants to show that it does not impede Bulgaria's development, the BSP has its intra-party limitations (the war in Ukraine, the eurozone, the controversy about the Istanbul Convention, etc.), and There Is Such a People are hostile to CC who accuse them of propping up GERB and the MRF. "GERB's big problem since 2020 has been how to launder and bleach itself, how to relegitimize itself and emerge from isolation," the interviewee says. He notes that of the 40 or so BSP mayors, 60-70% oppose the party leadership.  

***

Trud has rounded up analysts' opinion about the political situation. Constitutional law expert Borislav Tzekov that new early parliamentary elections are quite likely, but if they are to be scheduled for September rather than at the height of the holiday season the procedures for consultations with the President will have to be prolonged. According to sociologist Yurii Aslanov, if the first cabinet-forming mandate fails, the only option left is elections. A government elected without support from CC-DB, BSP for Bulgaria and Vazrazhdane is bound to be short-lived. The next elections will hardly replicate the current distribution of legislative seats, Aslanov observes. Alexander Marinov, who chairs the President's Strategic Council, notes that the system is stalling and the problems cannot be blamed on any one party or leader. He finds that nobody wants to take responsibility for governance because of the credible risks and mutual mistrust. 

SKOPJE-SOFIA SCANDAL

24 Chasa quotes historian Plamen Pavlov as saying that the comments of North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski are "exceedingly rude and show undignified conduct towards Bulgaria which has always supported their country in its European integration." "All the more so that Bulgaria remains well-disposed to the people in Macedonia regardless of their ethnic self-identification." "Such a tone is inadmissible and will yet again expose what the Macedonian authorities really think about joining the EU. The powerholders in North Macedonia are obviously unwilling to achieve this and simply go through the motions while levelling absurd invectives at Bulgaria. I believe that Bulgaria treats Macedonia in a diametrically opposite way to the treatment of Ukraine by the Russian Federation," Pavlov comments. He urges for an "immediate but diplomatic response on the part of Bulgaria" to the blacklisting of Bulgarians to be denied entry into that country. "Sofia should not use Skopje's rhetoric because they most probably wait precisely this, but the response should be sufficiently firm and categorical," the historian says.

***

Speaking on bTV Friday morning, Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev said that at a meeting with the special services in January or February, it emerged that the "black lists" were initiated by Pendarovski himself. According to Kovatchev, 99% of the people on these lists are Bulgarians. "We are dealing with a state which remains subservient to Yugoslav ideology to date. I don't say that we are perfect but our neighbours, too, have a lot of problems. Both countries have a long way to go," the interviewee pointed out.

"Macedonism is a tool developed by Russia and the Comintern as an instrument against Bulgaria and the Bulgarians. This weapon, in some form on the international stage, is used again against Bulgaria, but this time it employs a very popular rhetoric," Citizens Democratic Union Chair Petar Kolev said on the same show.

"What North Macedonia is doing in respect of Bulgaria is of a systematic nature. This time what Prime Minister Kovachevski began and President Pendarovski picked up in his narrative is impudent, inadmissible and manipulative," according to Prof. Anna Kocheva of the National Circle for Macedonia, who joined the discussion on bTV.

For his part, Krasen Stanchev of the Bulgarian-Macedonia Friendship Club argued that there is no diplomacy between the two countries "because Bulgaria is setting such requirements for EU membership to North Macedonia and Albania that are nonexistent as membership criteria." In Stanchev's opinion, "Bulgaria's rhetoric with regard to North Macedonia is completely the same as Putin's rhetoric towards Ukraine."  

BUDGET

In a two-page interview for Telegraph, financial expert Lyubomir Karimanski says that unless Parliament urgently adopts a budget, public finances may be blocked after June 10. He does not think, however, that there is a risk of a default on government debt service. Karimanski opposes a continued reduction of the VAT rate for restaurants. Replying to a question, he estimates the proportion of the grey economy at over 30% in the food processing industry.

ENERGY SECTOR

Interviewed in Duma, energy expert Tasko Ermenkov says that the claims of several district heating companies for heat power price hikes ranging from 110 to 170% are unfounded, given that natural gas prices have been falling steadily in recent months. Still, this decrease cannot be expected to last long. If Bulgaria contracts the supply of pipeline gas, it would be considerably cheaper, Ermenkov argues. He warns that unless the service life of Kozloduy N-Plant units 5 and 6 is extended for another 30 years in 2027 and 2029, respectively, Bulgaria may end up without any reactors because the extension needs to be licensed by the manufacturers and the Belene plant is not built. 

BULGARIA'S LARGEST SOLAR PARK

German company Sunotec is building Bulgaria's largest solar park on the slope of Mt Verila near Krainitsi village, not far from Dupnitsa (Southwestern Bulgaria), Capital Weekly reports. The project costs an estimated BGN 200 million-plus, which is part loan- and part self-financed. The facility will use some 222,000 photovoltaic panels. It occupies over 130 hectares and has an installed power of 123 MW. The park will generate roughly 170,000 MWh of electricity annually which, at the current price, will earn it over BGN 30 million. The beneficial owners of the investor Belozem Solar Park 3 are Eurohold majority owner Asen Christov, Eurohold board member Kiril Boshov, Sami Chakarov and Martin Nankov. A use permit for the park will most probably be issued in June.   

PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING

Andriyan Georgiev writes in www.dnevnik.bg that, albeit slowly and mostly at grassroots level(companies and individuals), the Bulgarian public becomes increasingly aware of the need to treat waste as a resource and reuse it in the economy. The conclusion is based on the latest nationally representative survey conducted by Ecopack, Bulgaria largest package waste recovery organization. As few as 20% of respondents said they collect separately waste paper, plastic, metal and glass on a regular basis. Nevertheless, separate collection is growing at an annual rate of 5-10%.  

Central and local government, however, are doing practically nothing to address the issue. There is no functioning market deposit system in Bulgaria. The target date for its introduction is 2016 but tangible steps to this end have not been reported and, when approached by Dnevnik, the Environment and Water Ministry did not reply.

Meanwhile, two of the largest supermarket chains in the country, Kaufland and Lidl, have installed machines taking PET bottles and aluminium cans in exchange for which shoppers get BGN 0.05 for each empty off their bill in the respective store. For its part, the Union of Brewers put in place containers for the collection of used beer bottles.

GABROVO SUCCESS STORY

Interviewed in 24 Chasa, Gabrovo Mayor Tanya Hristova says that the tunnel under the Shipka Pass must be built as it is a chance for convergence of Northern and Southern Bulgaria. Asked how Gabrovo has achieved wages and a standard of living second only to Sofia, Hristova explains that the city boasts a high share of value-added industry. In practice, manufacturing accounts for half of the local economy. In 2021, manufacturing companies in the municipality generated revenues approximating BGN 800 million. Gabrovo orients its industry towards high-tech production and welcomes digital companies which have the potential to attract young and qualified personnel. The city prioritizes specialization in mechatronics, informatics, information and communication technologies (ICT) and clean technologies, circular and low-carbon economy. The local government partners successfully with educational institutions, implementing initiatives for the cultivation of entrepreneurial skills, career guidance, and the increasing deployment of dual education.

The Mayor singles out as an important priority the development of project proposals under various programmes. "We are actively working to support condominium associations for energy efficiency renovation of multi-family buildings, we have prepared project proposals for energy efficiency of public buildings, for investments in renewable energy and many other projects," Hristova says. "We are preparing the next stage for investments in sustainable urban mobility within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

The project will be implemented in partnership with another municipality and a transport company and will include a range of different measures, including the purchase of electric buses, interventions in the urban environment, the development of opportunities for cycle paths and cycle lanes," the interviewee points out.

CHILDREN AT RISK

Trud has interviewed State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) President Teodora Ivanova, who says that physical and mental abuse and neglect are most often reported on the National Child Abuse Helpline 116 111. The alerts are submitted by children themselves, parents, neighbours, and other members of the public. There are also alerts about the risk of child abandonment, children reporting suicidal thoughts, children begging, etc. The number of alerts increased by 14.15% in 2022, from 1,018 in 2021 to 1,162 a year later. One hundred and eighty-two alerts about child abuse were received between January and March 31, 2023.

Replying to a question, Ivanova says that the SACP handles and coordinates international cases of children at risk of trafficking, abandonment, labour and sexual exploitation, and children involved in parental conflicts. "The Agency works closely with the competent Bulgarian and international institutions on specific cases of children holding Bulgarian citizenship who are abroad unaccompanied and child victims of trafficking in a number of countries in Europe. In 2022, SACP experts handled 26 cases involving 27 children: 18 girls and 9 boys. The reception of children from Britain, Sweden, Norway, Kosovo Ukraine, Austria, Spain, Germany and others was organized and coordinated," the Agency's President says in her interview.