site.btaMedia Review: August 8

Media Review: August 8
Media Review: August 8
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REVISIONS TO PROTECTION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT

The main story covered in all print and online media outlets on Tuesday was the debate in Parliament on the amendments to the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act. Bulgaria's National Assembly on Monday passed conclusively amendments to the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act. The revisions extend the range of persons falling within the scope of the law to include such who are in an intimate partner relationship of a duration exceeding 60 days. The MPs interrupted their summer recess for this urgent business after a case of heinous brutality against a young woman in Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria), classified as trivial bodily injury, caused a nationwide outcry.

The front page of Trud features comments by prof. Plamen Kirov, constitutional law specialist Natalia Kiselova, former MP and Minister of Interior Emanuil Yordanov, conservative party leader and former Minister of Health Petar Moskov. All four find the passing of the amendments problematic. The headline of the story reads “It is not domestic violence, if you beat up your partner up to two months in the relationship”.

The main highlight on the topic in Duma reads that “the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) saved Bulgaria from the Istanbul Convention”. The daily notes that by the proposal of the socialists Parliament voted the text defining “intimate relationship” to include that it is one between a man and a woman. The party also declares that it will participate in the submission of a claim on the matter to the Constitutional Court.

“Only a man and a woman can be intimate with each other” reads a title on the front page of 24 Chasa. The daily also notes that there were four new cases of domestic violence while Parliament is debating measures and amendments. The third highlight on the topic are the remarks of Vezhdi Rashidov made in Parliament. The daily writes that “his hasty words were followed by a protest, a scandal and an apology”.

GERB MP Vezhdi Rashidov resigned as Culture and Media Committee Chair and as member of GERB’s Executive Committee on Monday after his party urged him to do so over his remarks made earlier on the day during a break in Parliament when the amendments to the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act were voted. Unaware that a nearby microphone was switched on, Rashidov was reported as having said by various media outlets that "We have laws in place already. What are we yapping our mouths for? All the sluts woke up to remember after 15 years that they have been raped. Like with that American director who was made a fool out of". The GERB-UDF MPs distanced themselves from Rashidov's statement.

Telegraph is the only print that has not included the topic on their front page. The article inside highlights that MPs rushed the vote on the revisions, had heated discussions on same sex relationships, and ended up threatening each other with protests and refers to the Constitutional Court.

BSP MP Kristiyan Vigenin also commented on the topic on the morning programme of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT). In his words, the adopted texts are imprecise and were also voted on second reading at the same parliamentary session, which is explicitly forbidden by the rules of the National Assembly when there are proposals for amendments between first and second reading. According to him, the hasty vote was aimed at reassuring the public after the case in Stara Zagora, but "instead of thinking deeply and systematically, the law is being changed in a panic to pull the wool over people's eyes", he said.

Another BSP party member spoke on the morning programme of bTV – President's Legal Affairs Secretary Krum Zarkov Krum Zarkov, also former caretaker justice minister. He shared the opinion of BSP on the matter. Asked whether President Rumen Radev would veto the hastily adopted by Parliament legislative changes, he said, "These changes are yet to come to the Presidency and we will examine them and get acquainted with them."

Lawyer Yordanka Bekirska, psychologist Mladen Vladimirov and former deputy rector of the Interior Ministry Academy Milen Ivanov discussed on the morning programme of Nova TV the issue of domestic violence and its place in the Bulgarian legislation. The three also commented on the "scandalous" remark of the GERB-UDF MP Vezhdi Rashidov, after which he apologised and submitted two resignations. According to Bekirska, a large part of the Bulgarian public thinks like Rashidov. Psychologist Mladen Vladimirov, on the other hand, argues that MPs over the years have demonstrated a sharp contempt for their constituents.

ECONOMY

Trud’s issue includes a page entirely dedicated to the property market in Bulgaria and abroad. One article highlights the price increase of apartments in good locations in Bulgaria, simultaneously with a spike in buyers’ interest. Most people seek housing in closed residential complexes with green areas and playgrounds for children. Another article focuses on people’s increased interest in prefabricated buildings in the United States. The third article points out innovation in Bulgarian office spaces.

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An article in Trud discusses a possible EU directive, which entails a ban on exporting old unfit for traffic vehicles. The daily writes that Bulgaria will become “a graveyard for old vehicles”. The measure envisages owners of old, damaged or crashed cars will be able to recycle them or sell them to an EU Member State.

* * *

Duma writes that tomatoes, cheese and shoes prices have increased the most in Bulgaria in the past 11 years, according to data by the National Statistical Institute. The three product prices which decreases in that period were of sugar, dresses and male costumes. Nonfood products that registered a price increase were shoes, wood and coal for household use.

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The top story on the front page of 24 Chasa is on energy, the title reads that “Americans have produced free clean electricity”, through experimenting with thermonuclear fusion.

HOME AFFAIRS

The top story on Telegraph’s front page is about Bulgarian truck drivers and how they were fined for driving trucks with old or damaged tires. 1,200 trucks have been caught crossing Bulgaria's roads with unsafe tires since the beginning of 2022.

SOCIETY  

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Head Julian Revalski comments on education attainment among Bulgarian children, adolescents and adults. According to him, the educational level is declining for all age groups.

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Duma has an article that reports on the findings of a poll among 1,000 adults, conducted between June 6 and 20, 2023. According to the data, one third of Bulgarians say if they could choose, they would live under the regime of communist leader Todor Zhivkov, who ruled Bulgaria up until 1989. Those who favour Zhivkov’s ruling were mainly over 59 years-old, living in rural areas. Some 8% say that if they could they would not live in Bulgaria.

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Writer and demographer Georgi Bardarov says in an interview for Telegraph that he is “exhausted from writing on the topic of war”. He says that he is now moving towards the direction of the Bulgarian village. He comments on topics such as population growth, life expectancy, and educational level. Bardarov is of the opinion that young Bulgarians should be encouraged to thrive in their home country and not move abroad permanently.

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Telegraph dedicates a page on the 90th anniversary of Petar Danov’s Paneurhythmy. The daily highlights the participation of foreigners in the marking of the event. Paneurhythmy is a unique Bulgarian system of gymnastic musical exercises performed in a group (all participants are arranged in pairs forming a circle). Paneurhythmy exercises are performed in the morning in nature between March 22 and September 22. This year’s practice was attended by Italian, American, and Spanish nationals, among others.

HEALTHCARE

Telegraph, Trud, and 24 Chasa write that a number of medicinal drugs are absent in Bulgarian pharmacies. Telegraph’s headline reads that “392 medicines are unavailable”, including a comment by Pharmacies Owners’ Association Head Nikolay Kostov saying that this number includes seven types of insulin, which is “worrisome”. He says that 166 are exported and do not reach Bulgarian customers.

/YV/

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By 19:19 on 03.08.2024 Today`s news

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