site.btaMedia Review: April 12

POLITICS

The members of Parliament are deciding whether the Easter supplement for the lowest pensions shall be BGN 100, Friday’s media report.

The original proposal, submitted by GERB-UDF and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), was for BGN 75 Easter supplement for all with pensions below the poverty line. It was adopted at first reading in the hall last week, only Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) voted against it on the grounds that this money is meant for a permanent increase in pensions.

The amendment to the state social security budget law is so far the only item on the MPs' agenda. No Question Time is planned.

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GERB leader Boyko Borissov supports caretaker Transport Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov as head of the elections organization, BNR reports.

He said this to journalists in Parliament after on Thursday the Council of Ministers entrusted Gvozdeykov with the organisational and technical preparation of the election process.

Borissov said that he has confidence in the caretaker transport minister.

Gvozdeykov, who was transport minister in the last regular Denkov-Gabriel cabinet, was expelled by CC after it became clear that he had accepted to take over the same post in Dimitar Glavchev's caretaker cabinet.

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The ugly backstage battle could lead to low turnout at the upcoming elections, said Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov on Nova TV, commenting on the scandals in the Interior Ministry and the Customs Agency.

"We all knew what was going on, only now it is coming to light. Leaking documents, photos, and files has been a fact for the last twelve years. The two until recently ruling parties are actually still ruling. The caretaker cabinet includes their ministers," Kostadinov said.

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On the occasion of the World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day, head of State Rumen Radev will award military pilots with the Presidential Badge of Honour. They receive the award for their significant contribution to the development of Bulgarian aviation.

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Disappointment and anger. These are the two main emotions that the political situation in Bulgaria is causing at the moment, according to a survey by the Market Links agency. It was carried out at the request of bTV in early April among 1,046 adults. According to it, 48% of respondents were disappointed and 18% are angry. Anxiety is felt by 14% of people, and fear and threat by 4%. Only 5% see hope and 2% have a peace of mind. The boxes Security and Happiness were left unticked.

HOME SCENE

The Supreme Court of Cassation asked the Constitutional Court to annul the texts of the Criminal Code related to the confiscation of a vehicle or the imposition of a fine in the amount of the value of the vehicle when it is not the property of the offender, BNR reports.

The problem lies with four texts that were adopted last year relating to the penalties of drivers who drive after drinking and using drugs.

According to the supreme judges, the texts are contrary to the very nature of the law, introducing measures that are outside the criminal law.

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Expensive and serviceable but unusable medical equipment is gathering dust in polyclinics across the country, Nova TV reports. Dozens of portable X-ray machines, secured with EU funds during the pandemic, were delivered to the medical centres several months ago, but a legal regulation prevents them being used.

“I hope that with the change of some administrative regulations, which are in the portfolio of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the Ministry of Health, things will be sorted out a bit and start to move forward," said Dr. Stanimir Andonov, manager of the Stara Zagora State Clinical Centre.

“The regulatory framework is a snapshot of the 1960s, someone has to fix it" said Dr. Krasimir Peychev, manager of the Regional Polyclinic in Kazanlak.

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The regional government of Burgas has started checks for unauthorized campers and caravans on the South Black Sea coast, Trud reports.

Before the start of the summer season, all unauthorized campsites in the region located on state and municipal land will be checked. They have existed for years. Many caravans are without registration plates and are left throughout the winter season. The action is expected to start from the Vromos bay near Chernomorets and will be carried out on a pre-announced schedule in other areas with unregulated campsites.

CULTURE

BNR reports that the largest specialized exhibition for camping tourism, water sports and outdoor leisure is back for the seventh time and in a new location - Sofia Land. To host the event, the former metropolitan theme park opens its doors for the first time after 18 years ago, for a number of reasons, its activities were suspended.

From April 12 to 14, Sofia Land is hosting the Camping & Caravanning Expo. The event features the latest models of caravans and campers, tents, roof tents and all kinds of supplies related to outdoor recreation and nature tourism, as well as a farmers' market. Entrance is free.

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The national radio announced that Bulgarian composer Borislav Slavov wins the prestigious award for Best Music at this year's 20th edition of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts BAFTA GAMES AWARDS.

Slavov receives the recognition as the composer of the music for the Game of the Year award-winning “Baldur’s Gate 3”, which had eleven nominations and won three awards.

The Best Music statuette was presented to Slavov by “Spider-Man” and “King Arthur” composer Daniel Pemberton.

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Nurgyul Salimova drew with the black pieces versus Russian Kateryna Lagno in the seventh round of the World Chess Challengers Tournament, the national radio said. In the last game of the first of two turns in Toronto, the 20-year-old Salimova shared the points with the 34-year-old Lagno after 41 moves of play. The Bulgarian thus collected an asset of 3 points, while Lagno had 4. In the eighth round, Salimova will play with White against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

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On April 27, Zucchero’s "Overdosed'Amore World Wild Tour" will arrive in Varna, where the world star will sing for the first time at the Palace of Culture and Sports, Trud writes. He will appear on the Bulgarian stage accompanied by eleven musicians.

CAPITAL WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS

This week’s Capital opens with an article titled “A caretaker cabinet for party purposes”. A direct political result of the orchestrated scandal is the total return of the Interior Ministry to GERB and MRF before the elections. The divorce between CC-DB and GERB will be so ugly that no means will be spared to compromise CC-DB. They will be barraged with all the power resources in the hands of GERB leader Borissov and MRF leader Peevski, including the unreformed security services, the government’s power structures, the unreformed prosecutor's office and the Supreme Judicial Council. And the stakes in the upcoming parliamentary elections are high because an attempt will obviously be made to change the balance in the National Assembly.

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Only 3% has been spent under Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Plan so far, mainly money given to investment funds. The new programmes have practically not started yet and some are not even close to starting. The lack of grants is a new situation for businesses, which, unlike municipalities, have learned to rely on themselves. A check by Capital shows that Bulgaria has a total of BGN 66.8 billion for the new programmes, the completion of the old programming period, agricultural payments, and the Recovery Plan, but only 32% of it has actually been used.

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Sofia Municipality misses tens of millions of EU funding for sewerage in several districts due to delays. Projects end up as "inactive" under the Operational Programme Environment, with BGN 42 million unpaid, which the Municipality will have to find. Tensions are highest in Dragalevtsi, where citizens are protesting over the extended deadline and poor execution.

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US software company Synechron is buying Bulgarian Dreamix, one of the largest in the country. The acquisition takes place shortly before Synechron goes public in the US. Over the past three years Dreamix has grown fourfold to BGN 35 million in revenue. According to the company's director, Stoyan Mitov, the main reason he agreed to the deal is that Dreamix will retain its name and customers, which will be a welcome diversification for the new owner.