site.btaMedia Review: November 14

POST-ELECTION PARTY MEETINGS

All media publications on Thursday focused on GERB-UDF, the first political formation in the October 27 early parliamentary elections, beginning negotiations with the other parties, with the aim to find a way to form a stable government. After stating that the future government will not include MRF-New Beginning, Vazrazhdane, the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ARF), and MECh, GERB held meetings with the smaller parties in the 51st National Assembly, BSP-United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP). The outcome of these talks will give the first political force clarity on whether it makes sense to initiate consultations with the second political force, Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria. 

Duma, Telegraph, Trud, 24 Chasa, Sega and Mediapool all reported that talks between GERB and BSP-United Left did not focus on forming a cabinet, but on topics important to Bulgarian society. BSP-United Left Chair Atanas Zafirov said that the priorities that the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) presented to GERB were the adoption of the 2025 budget, the need to guarantee the social rights of Bulgarian citizens, a repeal of changes to the Constitution regarding the composition of a caretaker cabinet, the guarantee of Bulgaria's energy and economic security, health care and the need for legitimacy in the selection of regulators.

Duma adds that the BSP left the door open for additional talks. 

Sega and Mediapool reported that BSP and GERB agreed to postpone the liberalization of electricity prices for households for another two years. Sega in particular is quite critical of the idea, because household prices cannot be regulated and subsidized forever and this will hinder Bulgaria from receiving the next payment under the multi billion Recovery and Resilience Plan financed by EU. Mediapool notes that the BSP "bypassed" the question of a cordon sanitaire" around MRF - New Beginning raised by CC-DB. 

Trud, 24 Chasa quote CC-DB Co-chair Kiril Petkov, who stated that CC-DB are ready for many compromises, but not when it comes to MRF-New Beginning.

Trud, Telegraph, 24 Chasa report that GERB's talks with TISP focused on economic topics, not on the composition of a cabinet. TISP were slightly surprised that GERB chose to talk to them before talking to CC-DB. 

Both the BSP and TISP adamantly stated that they will not support GERB leader Boyko Borissov for prime minister.

Trud quotes Borissov, who criticized the way politics were conducted, as they seemed more like pre-election campaigns rather than finding a way to make the 51st National Assembly work. 

24 Chasa adds that while the BSP reached an agreement with GERB on another postponement of the liberalization of the electricity market, this turned out to be the main dividing line with CC-DB, which also held consultations on Wednesday.

Vazrazhdane said that they also received an invitation by CC-DB but it was withdrawn with no explanation. 

24 Chasa notes that it is not yet clear when and whether there will be talks between GERB and CC-DB. Borissov noted that after previous ill-fated dealings with CC-DB on legislation, he would first have the lawyers of the two formations meet.

NATIONAL AND LOCAL POLITICS

Trud, Sega, Telegraph report that on its second day of work the 51st National Assembly once again failed to elect a National Assembly chair. The MPs will resume the matter on Friday. Nominees for the post remained the same: Raya Nazaryan from GERB-UDF, Andrey Tsekov from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), Petar Petrov from Vazrazhdane, Natalia Kiselova from BSP-United Left and Nikoleta Kuzmanova from There Is Such a People (TISP). TISP offered another option - that Parliament be temporarily headed by Silvi Kirilov, who is leading the initial session in his capacity as the oldest representative.

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Sega writes that the judges of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) did not dare to nominate a candidate for president who would succeed the post from Georgi Cholakov. Wednesday was the last chance of nomination, as the election of a new SAC president is scheduled for March 20, 2025. Cholakov's mandate ends on November 22. After that date, he will remain in his post until a successor is elected. In contrast to the passivity of the judges to nominate a successor to Cholakov, they very actively and almost unanimously (with only one vote against) gave support to him remaining in his post. The topic of the election of a new SAC president and prosecutor general by a Supreme Judicial Council with a mandate that expired more than 2 years ago was quite a hot button issue during recent months.

Telegraph reports on the third protest against the procedures for electing a SAC president and prosecutor general by an "illegitimate body with an expired mandate" which took place in Sofia on Wednesday. The organizers of the protest said that it will be repeated every Wednesday until December 18.

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The Bulgarian National Television (BNT) hosted a political discussion on Thursday morning and sociologist Evelina Slavkova said that she is not completely convinced that Bulgaria is heading to new elections, as the procedure has become complicated, because in order to have new elections, a National Assembly chair must be elected. Thus, the meeting between GERB and CC-DB will be very important. Sociologist Dobromir Zhivkov added that with the changes in the Constitution, the election of a National Assembly chair becomes a function of the political negotiations that are being conducted to form the grand governing coalition. He noted that three areas must be outlined and agreed upon by the potential future partners: the legislative programme, the regulators and the composition of the Council of Ministers. Sociologist Kancho Stoychev did not find any positive signs, especially when it comes to the election of a prosecutor general, and the judicial system, and he does not see how a compromise will be made in this area.

In a discussion on bTV on Thursday morning, PR expert Diana Damyanova said that there are three very heavy barriers both to electing a National Assembly chair and establishing a government. First, election of a National Assembly chair is essentially the election of a possible future prime minister, which makes everyone suspicious and doubtful. The second big obstacle is the candidacy of Boyko Borissov for prime minister, the third is the CC-DB declaration for a cordon sanitaire" (sanitary cordon) around Delyan Peevski and his MRF-New Beginning. Nastimir Ananiev also commented on the topic, noting that there is virtually no chance of Borissov being prime minister himself and called his move a negotiation tactic. PR expert Boyana Bozadzhieva added that CC-DB are among the parties that have started their next election campaign rather than political negotiations.

In a discussion on Nova TV on Thursday morning, Dimitar Ganev from the Trend research agency said that Borissov proposed the only possible majority within the framework of the 51st National Assembly and that it seems like him participating in negotiations for the first time in years is a sign that they are being taken seriously. Parvan Simeonov from the Gallup research agency said that while political formations want to avoid being blamed for the elections and for making too heavy compromises, they see that another election will not bring them many benefits, as Delyan Peevski may win even more support. Ganev recalled that there still have been no negotiations between GERB-UDF and CC-DB. “They're not deadlocked, they just haven't started. It will certainly come to that. But it's also a competition," he added. Both GERB-UDF and CC-DB will have to open the door to forming a cabinet at least a little, commented Ganev. Both interlocutors agreed that none of the two coalitions will be in a more advantageous position after new elections.

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Sega, 24 Chasa, Mediapool, Trud, Telegraph, Mediapool quote Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, who summed up his first year in office by saying that as difficult and challenging as it has been, much has been achieved for the city, the result of collective work, including with the support of his opponents. He added that the work done by his team was collected in an 80-page report with graphs and figures.

Mediapool and Sega quote CC-DB and Terziev's partners, Save Sofia, who stated that they will only remain part of this coalition if there are results. Save Sofia listed five main priorities the implementation or non-implementation of which will decide their continued partnership: a transparent competition for a new chief architect of Sofia; the future contracts for cleaning, maintenance of the street network and landscaping; the future structure of Sofa Municipality; a revision of GERB's management; and the budget for 2025 and its prioritizing parking lots, parks, investments in neighbourhoods and construction of transport infrastructure.

Later on Facebook, Mayor Terziev stated that he was not giving in to pressure and avoided a definitive answer.

INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Mediapool, Trud, Trud, 24 Chasa report that as expected, the third consecutive meeting of President Rumen Radev with his North Macedonia counterpart Gordana Siljanovska did not lead to a breakthrough in bilateral relations, but both demonstrated readiness for dialogue. "The problem is not only in the inclusion of the Bulgarians in the constitution. North Macedonia must fulfill everything from the negotiation framework and the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria,," said Radev after the meeting, which took place within the framework of COP 29 in Baku.

On the air of BNT on Thursday morning, historian Hristo Matanov commented that the media presented only the "pleasant things" from the meeting between President Radev wand President Siljanovska in Baku, and the unpleasant conversations were not covered. "Siljanovska cannot play the role of the good guy forever, while Hristijan Mickoski remains the bad guy - after all, she is appointed by VMRO-DPMNE, that is, by Mickoski himself, and she has no way to carry out any policy other than his own," argued the expert, adding that North Macedonia is under great pressure and Prime Minister Mickoski cannot continue with his current policy.

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Mediapool, Trud quote a comment President Radev made to TASS at COP 29 in Baku, that all diplomatic opportunities should be used to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine. Radev noted that many in Europe want the conflict in Ukraine "to end as quickly as possible", and that war in the centre of Europe must not be allowed. The restoration of energy cooperation with Russia depends on the dialogue between Russia and the EU, he also added.

HOME AFFAIRS

Trud, Mediapool, Sega, Telegraph report that Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov submitted to Parliament the request to remove MP Dzheyhan Ibryamov's parliamentary immunity due to evidence of influence peddling in the October 27 elections and exerting influence regarding the Healthcare Ministry.

In his first interview after his arrest, Dzheyhan Ibryamov said on bTV on Thursday morning that the evidence against him was staged because he is the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (ASF) Deputy Chair for organizational matters and it was important that he be removed from the political field. He was arrested in early October, when he was a sitting MP in the 50th National Assembly and a MP candidate, after his immunity was lifted without a parliamentary session. Ibryamov also said that during the entire pre-election campaign there were repressions against ASF MP candidates.

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Telegraph, Sega, 24 Chasa add that the Sofia City Court suspended its case against Radostin Vasilev, as he has acquired immunity as a MP. Vassilev, a former MP from CC-DB and now the leader of the new parliamentary force MECh, was on trial for attempting to exert pressure on former MP Hristinka Ivanova.

ECONOMY

Sega reports that only 25 Bulgarian companies made it into this year's Top 500 ranking of the largest companies in Central and Eastern Europe. It was prepared for the 16th consecutive year by the credit insurer Coface based on the financial results of 2023. Compared to the previous year, the representation of Bulgaria is now 6 companies less. Thus, this country ranks sixth in CEE, with Poland ahead with 184 large companies, Czechia with 69, Hungary with 62, Romania with 54 and Slovakia with 27. The turnover of the Bulgarian companies included in the ranking was BGN 40.1 billion, and their total net profit for 2023 was EUR 2.081 billion. The 25 companies employ 33,968 people, which is 1.2% of all employed in the country.

Telegraph warns that producers predict an increase in the price of bread. If the 0% VAT is removed and increased to the previous 20% VAT rate for flour and bread in the 2025 budget, bread will become more expensive every ten days: Removing the zero VAT for bread and flour would lead to the emergence of a 50% gray sector, experts said.

On its morning programme, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) continued the topic of citizens' incomes, taxation, the minimum wage. Confederation of Independent Trade Unions President Plamen Dimitrov explained that salaries in Bulgaria continue to grow in double-digit percentages. The private sector in this quarter is growing ahead of the budget sector on an annual basis. The growth of the average salary in the private sector is 14%, while in the public sector it is less than 12%. The market is in a deficit and raising incomes has no alternative. Dimitrov also added that there are cartel formations of employers in 4-5 regions in Bulgaria which suppress incomes.

SOCIETY

Trud, Telegraph report that, according to a Eurostat ranking, Bulgarians are the most dissatisfied with life in the European Union. However, they do not have the worst lives when comparing indicators like the risk of poverty or social exclusion. For this research, Eurostat used a so-called "satisfaction indicator", without comparing statistical data on income, employment, social development or living conditions. The 0-10 reflects only the personal assessment. The results show that out of all the citizens of the European Union, Bulgarians were the most dissatisfied. With an average value of the indicator of 7.3, Bulgaria had a 5.9, being the only one below 6. Right above Bulgarians were Latvians and Greeks. The most satisfied were the citizens of Finland, Belgium and Austria.