site.btaMedia Review: March 11

POLITICS

24 Chasa writes that the Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO) is now part of the dispute over whether and when there will be a reallocation of seats in the 51st National Assembly, potentially admitting Velichie [Grandeur] to the National Assembly. The daily notes that the situation becomes more complicated 133 days after the elections, as Information Service hands over technical equipment to SCPO without notifying the Central Election Commission (CEC). This action temporarily disrupts the additional vote recalculation ordered by the Constitutional Court after experts recalculated ballots in 2,204 polling stations and found errors.

24 Chasa explains that the technical items Information Service hands over include flash drives, computers, and other devices containing data on the recalculation. The paper states that the re-tallying of results by the Information Service is delayed because these materials are no longer available. CEC Chair Kamelia Neykova suggests verifying the missing ballots, but the court denies a new count.

Summarizing the growing tension, 24 Chasa quotes Constitutional Court Chair Pavlina Panova, who delivers an unusual prime-time address: “The Constitutional Court is the only authority that can evaluate the legality of the elections, and all State bodies must fully cooperate with it and not hinder its work,” Panova stated.

24 Chasa points out that if the Constitutional Court rules to admit Velichie to the National Assembly by confirming it crosses the 4% threshold, at least ten incumbents will lose their seats, and the majority behind the Zhelyazkov cabinet will fall to a razor-thin majority of 121 votes.

The newspaper also quotes GERB leader Boyko Borissov, who comments on a possible reallocation that would trim his parliamentary group more than any other. “Our electoral system takes away the most from those who are winners. I see no logic in it, and it is not fair,” Borissov said. Borissov believes the Zhelyazkov cabinet should keep functioning, even as a minority government, to facilitate Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone, with renegotiation with Democratic Bulgaria as a backup plan.

Trud, Mediapool.bg and Telegraph also cover the story. Dnevnik presents multiple reactions describing SCPO’s actions as a “coup.” Commentators, such as lawyer Adela Kachaunova, co-chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, lawyer Velislav Velichkov from the Justice for All initiative, ex-prosecutor Andrey Yankulov and journalist Petyо Tsekov warn that blocking the Constitutional Court’s attempt to re-check disputed election results undermines trust in voting and democracy. They say this delay could prevent a potential reallocation of seats in the National Assembly, affect the current majority, and erode institutional credibility. Some highlight that the Constitutional Court, which alone decides the legality of elections, is left unable to complete its work, while SCPO—described as “uncontrolled”—gains leverage over the entire process. Critics argue that the public should demand accountability and rule of law, rather than allow an arrangement in which key decisions are made by SCPO, the government-owned Information Service, and CEC.

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Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported that Ivilina Aleksieva-Robinson, former CEC chair and expert witness to the Constitutional Court (CC) on the contested election results, described the obstruction of the CC’s work as unacceptable. She said the CC served as a guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law, so all State bodies were obliged to supply the court with the necessary information in ongoing cases.

Aleksieva-Robinson said that re-entering data from over 12,000 polling stations normally took around three days and could not explain why the Central Election Commission delayed fulfilling the CC’s request, sent on February 26, for re-entry of data from 2,000 polling stations. She also found it inappropriate that Information Service had disclosed information without the CC’s permission and handed over materials to the SCPO, even though those documents belonged to the court itself.

She pointed out that if there were valid suspicions of criminal wrongdoing, any State institution or individual could lawfully notify the Prosecutor’s Office. Yet, Aleksieva-Robinson believed the relevant evidence had to be provided by the Constitutional Court. She warned that this situation undermined faith not only in the electoral process but also in State institutions and urged Information Service to complete its work promptly so the CC could conclude its case, which had already entered its final phase.

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BNT reported that Information Service issued a statement regarding the scandal involving the Constitutional Court (CC) and the Central Election Commission (CEC) over the recent elections. According to the statement, the company did not hand over the original or copies of the CC’s protocols to the SCPO. Instead, it returned all source documents, originally received from CEC, back to it, as Information Service did not retain copies or originals of those protocols.

The company clarified that, on March 10, 2025, SCPO requested all materials related to computer processing and data entry of the protocols—sent by the CC through CEC—based on a prosecutorial order and a subsequent letter. Information Service asserted that it provided full cooperation to all competent State authorities concerning the constitutional case and stressed its responsibility in processing election results over the past twenty years.

Information Service also noted that under the Election Code CEC published scanned protocols prior to the final determination of election outcomes, along with open data in machine-readable form from 2003 onward. The company believed this practice ensured transparency and accuracy, as it allowed election participants and outside experts to analyse and verify the data.

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Nova TV covered commentary from political scientists Milen Lyubenov and Milena Stefanova regarding the Constitutional Court’s recount and the involvement of the Central Election Commission and Information Services. Lyubenov said, "Parties already knew the recalculation result – Velichie is entering Parliament." He added that the Court should have invalidated the election results in polling stations with missing ballots, and noted, "When it became clear that there might be a reconfiguration in the composition of parliament, phone calls began asking for a delay so that the budget could pass."

Stefanova described the conflict between the Central Election Commission and Information Services as a performance and said, "Parties are the foundation of democracy. The current situation is a result of the crisis in the party system. The formations should promptly make changes to the election legislation to prevent speculation." She added, "At first, the Constitutional Court should have published its decision before sending the results for recalculation," and explained that the recount would overshadow the budget discussions. She concluded that inflation data would appear at the end of March and that the possibility of joining the eurozone was growing, alongside an increase in hybrid attacks.

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bTV and Nova TV covered the Central Election Commission’s decision to resend printed protocols and the two technical devices with recalculated results to Information Services, with a deadline of March 12 at 09:00 for the data to be returned. The move followed an earlier statement by the Constitutional Court, which said its case on the lawfulness of the parliamentary elections was hindered after Information Services submitted the materials to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office without the Court’s permission. Chair of the Constitutional Court Pavlina Panova said, "The Court was notified that the Central Election Commission continues not to fulfil the assigned task, because Information Services has turned over the material to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, along with the technical media and devices, without permission from the Court." The Constitutional Court found a discrepancy in nearly 47% of the polling stations that were checked.

Information Services noted that it did not hand over the protocols from the Constitutional Court or their copies to the prosecutor’s office and had returned to CEC all original documents. The company requested that CEC send the protocols again so it could complete the data entry. Meanwhile, SCPO said it was examining missing ballots from the last parliamentary elections, following a complaint from Information Services on March 7, and assigned the State Agency for National Security to conduct the investigation.

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) covered comments from attorney-at-law Alexander Kashumov, who said, "If the Election Code weren't amended twice a year, situations like the one we are in might not have happened." He noted that constant alterations to the election system created instability, as elections were the main way the people delegated power. Kashumov said, "When Pandora’s box is opened, many eager participants in public life try to turn the current situation to their advantage."

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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) covered remarks from Constitutional Court Chair Pavlina Panova, who said, "We are almost ready to issue a ruling after receiving the data from the Central Election Commission, but that final information is necessary." Panova noted that the inactivity of CEC and Information Services hindered the Court’s readiness, and said, "There has been sabotage somewhere down the line." She added that the Constitutional Court could not make public any evidence before its decision, nor could another state body share such materials without the Court’s permission.

Panova commented that SCPO had no grounds to request anything from the Court before it ruled on the case and stressed that it was not Information Services’ role to turn over materials to the prosecution. She said, "We do not feel direct pressure, but we are perplexed by these activities during an ongoing judicial process," and warned that if the Court found unlawful mandates, the matter would return to CEC and Information Services. Panova concluded that the Court was "strongly concerned" and expressed doubt about receiving the necessary data within the timeframe it had expected.

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Trud writes that a new resolution against political repression in Bulgaria will be introduced by Vazrazhdane in the European Parliament on Wednesday. The daily cites Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Vazrazhdane, saying the text is 80% identical to the October 2022 resolution, which condemned the police repression of protesters who were detained for up to 72 hours. He points out that Bulgaria now has “political prisoners,” something unseen since 1947. According to Kostadinov, the resolution will be tabled on behalf of the Europe of Sovereign Nations group that Vazrazhdane is a member of and has already garnered 20 signatures.

Trud adds that Kostadinov labels the EU “the Fourth Reich” and predicts it will share the fate of “the Third Reich,” citing what he calls an emerging rapprochement between the US and Russia. Vazrazhdane intends to push for “reformatting” the EU, arguing its current form harms Bulgaria’s national interests. Kostadinov also accuses the European Commission of interfering in Romania’s internal affairs by removing Calin Georgescu from presidential elections and alleges that massacres of Christians and Shiites continue in Syria under EC’s watch.

He insists the State allocates vast resources to undermine Vazrazhdane—summoning its activists to the police and compiling a “membership registry.” He calls for “freedom for political prisoners,” referring to an ongoing investigation into “crimes against the Republic” after Vazrazhdane burned the EU flag at a protest against adopting the euro. Kostadinov adds that the party will defend “thousands of proposals” for the State budget as an exercise of constitutional rights rather than sabotage.

ECONOMY

Capital writes that Vazrazhdane overwhelms the 2025 State budget debate by submitting over 38,000 amendment proposals, which the daily describes as an attempt to stall or block its adoption. Many amendments repeat the same request with only slight numerical changes, creating a massive administrative burden and, according to Capital, turning the budget vote into a circus.

Among the few substantive proposals stands out an amendment by former chair of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange Victor Papazov, which would effectively abolish private pension funds by transferring the entire pension contribution to the State Social Security budget. Capital notes this would generate about BGN 3 billion in extra revenue but dismantle the second pillar of the pension system.

Another of the party’s “financial heavyweights,” Dimo Drenchev, introduces more moderate and specific ideas—though often requiring additional public spending. These include raising tax relief for families with a third child or a child with disabilities, increasing lump-sum newborn allowances, and halving food vouchers (aiming to boost small businesses and generate higher budget revenues). Drenchev also proposes limiting the new Standard Audit File requirement to only large enterprises to ease administrative burdens.

Vazrazhdane also opposes lowering the VAT registration threshold from BGN 166,000 to BGN 100,000. Capital adds that while a few proposals are reasonable, the vast majority of amendments appear to be minor, repetitive requests – for example, reallocating minimal amounts repeatedly from one budgetary item to another hundreds of times – which it sees as a deliberate move to prolong the process. The daily notes that some proposals seek extra funding for certain sectors (e.g. increasing the lump-sum child allowance or expanding a regional infrastructure project), but most appear to be geared toward disrupting the overall budget procedure.

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Duma and Mediapool.bg report that Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov says it is time to end the “working poor” phenomenon by ensuring decent wages, which he considers the most effective way to reduce inequalities. He adds that creating high-quality, well-paid jobs in Bulgaria requires a long-term State plan for at least ten years, highlighting that the recently formed government has initiated the first steps with its programme.

Gutsanov explains that the plan should account for regional specificities, synchronising economic development and labour market needs. He emphasises the importance of social dialogue among the State, trade unions, employers’ organisations and educational institutions, remarking that cooperation generates new ideas. Gutsanov notes that incorporating the EU directive on adequate minimum wages into Bulgarian law will not result in lower pay. He points out that the draft budget for 2025 maintains all social benefits, despite a significant deficit, and mentions the possibility of Easter bonuses for retirees, which depends on the budget’s resources.

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Mediapool.bg reports that former Finance Minister Milen Velchev does not see any immediate cause for significant concern regarding the budget. However, he wishes it were more conservative and capable of maintaining strong reserves for potential economic shocks. Velchev argues that Bulgaria should not continue to run a 3% budget deficit each year, particularly since the economy is still expanding. He identifies increasing salaries and rising social and pension costs as major challenges for the budget.

Velchev also says that the main measure of success for the current government is its performance concerning the eurozone. He believes that if spending policies do not change in the coming years, taxes will inevitably rise. He also notes that the growing State debt will keep increasing interest payments.

DEFENCE

24 Chasa, Telegraph and Dnevnik write that President Rumen Radev calls for the Bulgarian army to be modernised without resorting to loans that risk burdening the economy. The daily notes that Radev speaks at a meeting with President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovic.

“There is no politician in Bulgaria who has worked more actively than I have to achieve army modernisation,” Radev said. He cites convening a defence council back in 2018 and focusing at the time on the importance of European cooperation, integrating Bulgaria’s defence industry into major European projects.

Radev also said "Europe cannot enforce peace through strength. It is unethical to push Ukraine to keep fighting to gain a stronger position for peace negotiations. This approach is completely unrealistic. It leads to a harsh confrontation with reality. Such a policy will result in disaster for Ukraine and a deadlock for Europe."

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Trud writes that former President Georgi Parvanov warns against what he calls “rattling” of weapons, saying it creates a premise for new or expanding military conflicts. “I see Europe’s security, along with Ukraine and the wider world, in diplomacy, not in accumulating arms,” Parvanov said. He notes that the situation calls for establishing “a genuine, long-term, guaranteed military system” in Europe, rather than what he describes as the current piecemeal efforts.

Parvanov comments that Ukraine should be present at peace negotiations and adds that dialogue between major global leaders is crucial, but “not at Europe’s expense.” He also says he is not a Trump supporter yet finds the former US President’s behaviour relatively reassuring.

In Parvanov’s view, Zelenskyy cannot hold anyone accountable. “He is upset that he was not received well at the White House. He travelled around the world with his demands, and these demands were met. It is unclear if anyone can calculate how many billions his administration received and how much weaponry. What truly matters now is to reach a peace that satisfies both sides,” Parvanov said.

Regarding the possibility of a new “iron curtain,” which is defined as a risk in the government’s new defence system, Parvanov argues Bulgaria should be cautious about aligning too readily with any single bloc.

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Trud writes that Hristo Gadzhev, Chair of the Defence Committee in the National Assembly, says there is a surge of applicants enlisting in the army after pay rises in the sector. “We expect nearly 1,000 new recruits this year,” Gadzhev says, noting that staff shortages in March 2024 range between 20 and 25%, which he describes as critical. He adds that officials consider using a voluntary reserve and additional training for those who carry arms, with discussions ongoing for several years.

Gadzhev notes that Bulgaria’s stance on Ukraine remains unchanged since the start of the war: “A lasting peace is possible only when the aggressor stops waging war.” He believes Europe’s rearmament plans are long overdue, emphasising that Bulgaria’s current national defence strategy identifies the threat as conventional warfare and territorial risks in Europe. “The threat is clear – it’s coming from Russia,” Gadzhev says. He points out that previous documents prioritised counterterrorism, while now the focus is on the conflict in Ukraine and the Russian Federation’s aggressive policy.

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Duma reports that President Rumen Radev states that recent security discussions focus more on rearmament than on achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine. "At the latest Security Council meeting in Brussels, the emphasis was on rearmament, with little mention of stopping the conflict in Ukraine, which is dragging Europe down," Radev comments, noting that the idea of "enforcing peace through force seems increasingly unrealistic." He describes claims of EUR 800 billion available for defence as untrue, explaining, “There will be loans and the possibility of giving up infrastructure and cohesion funds—meaning you abandon water supply, social and environmental projects in order to invest in the defence industry.”

Radev says he expects the government to handle Bulgaria’s defence commitments responsibly and warns that modernising the army and strengthening the defence industry should be constant priorities, not prompted only by Brussels. He recalls that Bulgaria’s defence councils produce limited results so far, although many who attend them now hold senior positions.

Radev points out Bulgaria’s capacity to manufacture ammunition but underlines a lack of domestic sources for gunpowder, saying, "A responsible and reputable Bulgarian investor has been navigating through various institutions to invest in production", but was faced with constant obstacles from previous governments, including both the GERB-UDF and Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB)’s coalition and the Glavchev-led caretaker governments. Radev notes that Europe is "noticeably absent" in efforts to secure peace in Ukraine, despite being the most impacted by the conflict.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Dnevnik writes that twenty international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, call on Bulgarian authorities to refrain from deporting Saudi human rights defender Abdulrahman al-Khalidi to Saudi Arabia. The groups say sending him back would violate Bulgarian, European and international law, which forbids returning individuals to countries where they risk torture or ill-treatment. Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea notes that al-Khalidi is a prominent critic of the Saudi government and warns that his forced return would breach the ban on refoulement. The organisations urge Bulgarian and EU bodies to respect international regulations and allow al-Khalidi’s resettlement in a third country.

SOCIETY

Trud, 24 Chasa, Dnevnik and Mediapool.bg write that politicians and public figures in Sofia mark the 82nd anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews with a procession from Church of St. Sophia to the Monument of Salvation. Among the participants are Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev, President of the Shalom Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Alexander Oscar, diplomats and others.

"Eighty-two years separate us from those momentous events when, in an atmosphere of oppression, totalitarian darkness, and horror, Bulgarians from all walks of life – clergy, politicians, public figures, and ordinary citizens – raised their voices to defend their fellow countrymen’s right to live. Their voices became the embodiment of humanity and compassion," Zhelyazkov says. He describes this as an act of humanism, adding that the example of the rescuers continues to inspire pride.

Oscar points out that each year the memory of 50,000 Bulgarian citizens saved from deportation in March 1943 is honoured, while also remembering more than 11,000 Jews from Northern Greece, Pirot and parts of today’s North Macedonia who are deported to a concentration camp. “This is a day that should be remembered,” Oscar says.

Kiselova underscores the significance of expressing gratitude to those who stood for the right to life. Georgiev notes the event as a defining moment of humanism and empathy in Bulgarian history. Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Yosi Levi Sfari emphasises that the example set by Bulgarians is a powerful lesson, saying, “The Bulgarian people deserve to be proud of their story.”

Writer Lea Cohen also reflects on the long-standing unity between Bulgarians and Bulgarian Jews, portraying it as a centuries-long bond grounded in shared values and mutual support.

CRIME

Trud, Telegraph, Dnevnik and Mediapool.bg write that a 32-year-old Sofia resident enters the weather station at Mount Murgash without clothes and brutally assaults a married couple, employees of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH). The daily quotes Prosecution Service spokesperson Nikolay Nikolaev, who calls the incident “a case worthy of a Stephen King novel.”

The attack occurs in the night leading into Monday, March 10. The aggressor scales the building via downpipes, shatters a small window on the third floor and bursts in, then repeatedly strikes the couple with his fists before using a fire poker and a metal rod. The seriously injured couple escape through a first-floor window and walk 4 km to a nearby hut, where the hut keeper calls the police at 1:15 AM. Тhe wife suffers multiple head wounds, while the husband has a broken cheekbone, a fractured jawbone and knocked-out teeth.

Police teams subdue the assailant after he resisted arrest; he is immobilized with Taser pistols but attempts to remove the electrodes. He has no criminal record and is not registered in any psychiatric facilities. Charged with causing moderate bodily harm, he is being held for 72 hours. “We are extremely concerned about the incident,” says Professor Tanya Marinova, Director of NIMH, adding that NIMH is considering installing cameras at its stations, as it does not have the resources to employ security guards.