site.btaMedia Review: August 29

HEADLINES

On its front page, 24 Chasa quotes former environment minister Asen Lichev as saying that "BGN 1.1 billion that had been spent on fruitless elections” could have rescued the country from water rationing.

Duma says in a headline that the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy proposes an increase in the minimum monthly wage by BGN 144 to BGN 1,077 as of January 1, 2025. Trud also has this story on its front page.

Telegraph’s leading article says that the Health Ministry is enforcing stricter measures following the death of two people infected with West Nile virus. The deceased patients, aged between 61 and 74, had comorbidities. The virus is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes, and less than 1% of people affected will get severe symptoms. In many of these cases, the infection can affect the central nervous system, the Ministry says, adding that 80% of those infected have no symptoms. Nova TV’s morning programme also covered the topic.

In its top story, Trud writes that a Black Sea cyclone is likely to bring heavy storms to Bulgaria in the following three days. The daily quotes climatologist Simeon Matev, who says that torrential rains and hailstorms can be expected.  

POLITICS

All print media comment on the expulsion of one of the two chairpersons of the Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF) and floor leader, Delyan Peevski, following a Tuesday meeting of the MRF Central Operative Bureau attended by the party's Honorary Chair Ahmed Dogan. The decision followed a rift in the party amid what appears to be a battle over the control of the MRF between Peevski and Dogan. A headline in Duma says: "Dogan Expells Peevski and His Aides from MRF".

Interviewed on the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) morning show, MEP and MRF deputy chairperson Ilhan Kyuchyuk described the decision to expel Peevski as legitimate. In his words, the expulsion was a logical move given Peevski’s "disregard for MRF’s fundamental rules".

Referring to unnamed sources within the party, Trud writes that the MRF will most likely run in the October 27 parliamentary elections with two separate candidate lists. The reason is the legal disputes that are expected over who should represent the party before the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Speaking on the Nova TV morning show, MRF parliamentary group expellee Valentin Tonchev said that "Dogan is making his comeback in active politics" and may be part of the candidate lists in the upcoming elections.

Telegraph has a story saying that "there is ongoing controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the decision for Peevski’s expulsion". The daily quotes sociologist Dobromir Zhivkov of Market Links, who told the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) on Wednesday that there is a good chance that the two - Peevski and Dogan’s - factions will make it into the new Parliament if they get registered by CEC. Zhivkov added that despite Peevski’s low approval rating, he still has influence in some constituencies.

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24 Chasa has a headline: "[Outgoing Socialist Party Chair Korneliya] Ninova Threatens to Block BSP’s Entry in Elections, Decision on Whether She Will Be Expelled to Be Taken in Coming Days". The daily writes that it is unclear whether the party will be able to register for the elections in time. BSP’s new leadership does not have time to register in court. The leadership is illegitimate because the party is currently represented by its outgoing chairman, Ninova argued. The drama unfolded two months ago following the election of the then deputy leader Atanas Zafirov as interim chairperson at a meeting of the party’s National Council.

In an interview with BNR, MEP Kristian Vigenin of BSP/Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats said that a coalition agreement between left-wing parties has been approved. The coalition will bear the name "BSP - United Left", he said without providing any details.

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Speaking on the BNR, lawyer and former MP Petar Slavov said that the registration with the Central Election Commission for participation in the upcoming elections is of paramount importance for the MRF and BSP.

Interview by Trud, ABV party leader Rumen Petkov comments on the upcoming snap parliamentary elections, the role of the interior minister in the election process, the political crisis, and the conflicts in the MRF and the Bulgarian Socialist Party. Referring to the legal disputes that the two parties are bound to get involved in, Petkov says that the court should not be an active player in political life and the current election process at the expense of authentic and solid political parties. He notes that the overall political landscape is alarming, and it is likely that another round of snap elections will be held a few months after the October 27 vote. He said that The Left! coalition where ABV is one of the members, and GERB are "the only political entities that emanate stability".

Political analysts Dimitar Ganev and Georgi Kiryakov were guests on the BNT morning program, where they discussed the political situation in Bulgaria, the rift in the MRF, and the ways it may affect the election results.

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24 Chasa carries a story on the nominees for the new Bulgarian European Commissioner. The daily writes that seven candidates have been put up by the political forces in Parliament before the August 30 deadline set by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. GERB-UDF nominated former foreign minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms former MEP Iskra Mihaylova, Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria former environment and water minister Julian Popov, Vazrazhdane Stock Exchange founder Victor Papazov, and There Is Such a People ex-deputy foreign minister Velislava Petrova. The Bulgarian Socialist Party fielded two candidates MEP Tsvetelina Penkova and Deputy National Assembly Chair Dragomir Stoynev.

Duma has a similar story and quotes the BNT, which refers to its own sources in Brussels: “Bulgaria will be assigned the regional policy portfolio in the new European Commission”.

Former European affairs minister Gergana Passy offered her take on the topic during an appearance on the bTV morning show.

POLL

BNR has an interview with sociologist Veronika Dimitrova of the Human and Social Studies Foundation, which together with Alpha Research conducted a survey that shows growing approval of the EU and NATO. More than 60% of Bulgarians approve of this country’s EU membership. The survey indicates that the approval of Russia has dropped from 60% in 2018 to 31.8% in 2024. In Dimitrova’s words, public opinion is shifting dramatically as a result of the war in Ukraine. She added that 63.8% of respondents believe that Bulgaria should be a country with Western liberal democracy, while nearly 21% consider an authoritarian regime the best form of governance.

ENVIRONMENT

24 Chasa leads with an interview with ex-environment and water minister Asen Lichev, who comments on the water supply disruptions across the country, the measures Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev’s Cabinet has taken, the impacts of climate change, and Bulgaria’s readiness to face them. “We are not prepared for climate change because we are not investing in education and raising public awareness,” Lichev says. “Climate change exacerbates social and economic inequalities; the poorest are most affected because they lack the resources to adapt,” he adds. The ex-minister notes that had the national programme on combating desertification adopted in 2001 been implemented, water rationing would have been prevented. “It was clear back in 2001 that a warming trend was emerging, but nobody took notice of it,” Lichev says.

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Telegraph runs a two-page interview with the head of the State Forestry Enterprise (SFE) in the western town of Dupnitsa, Atanas Dimankov. He comments on the firefighting efforts focused on the area of the Cherni Vrah peak in the Rila Mountains where a wildfire broke out last week, the challenges firefighters face, and the extent of the losses the disaster has inflicted. Dimankov says that there is good coordination between all institutions involved in extinguishing the fire. He highlights the need for cutting more roads through the forests, as that would enable the access of specialized equipment and improve firefighting activities. The SFE head says that a law on volunteerism should be adopted as soon as possible so that employers can offer employees paid leave for time spent volunteering to assist with disaster relief efforts.

HEALTH

24 Chasa has a story about a video posted on social media by Bulgarian singer Diona on Wednesday that shows her promoting a snortable powdered substance marketed as an energy booster. In a position released later in the day, the Health Ministry says that it has not authorized the product, noting that its legal classification and ingredients are unclear, and it could pose a health risk if overused. The Commission for Consumer Protection fined the company selling the product. In the article, the daily recalls that Diona was arrested for drug driving earlier this year after testing positive for cocaine. The topic is also covered by Telegraph.

Appearing on the bTV morning show, psychologist and therapist Ina Antonova spoke about the dangers of energy drink intake. She noted that it can lead to mental health problems: increased anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disturbances in children. Addition expert Zhelyaz Turlakov also commented on the topic on the BNT show.  

CULTURE

The 40th Apollonia Art Festival that opens on Thursday in the Black Sea town of Sozopol is given front-page prominence in 24 Chasa. The event will run until September 7 and will feature film screenings, theatre performances, concerts, and exhibitions.