site.btaMedia Review: October 13

OVERVIEW

The topics that dominate media are the challenges to the 2026 State Budget, the recent floods that devastated parts of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, and the Sofia waste management crisis.

2026 BUDGET

In a pre-recorded interview for the morning programme of Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) Governor Dimitar Radev warned that the 2026 state budget faces serious difficulties. He believes that this year, inflation in Bulgaria will exceed that in the eurozone. Radev stressed that borrowing should be linked to investments and economic growth, and salary increases in the public sector must be accompanied by reforms. These priorities, he said, should be central to parliamentary debates on the 2026 budget, which will be Bulgaria's first as a eurozone member. “I believe the 2026 budget is perhaps more important than any budget in the last five years,” Radev said. “We must not forget that fiscal policy has been one of the country's greatest comparative advantages over the years. We must not lose it. This means pursuing sound macroeconomic and fiscal policies. So, even outside the context of the euro area, we must continue with good national policies in all key areas,” Radev added. When asked whether the government had overestimated its ability to take on new debt, Radev explained: “There is good debt and bad debt. Good debt is when you borrow for strategic investments that drive economic growth, which in turn not only repays the debt but generates additional value. Bad debt is what we've been accumulating in recent years: borrowing to finance consumption, such as increasing public sector salaries without reform.” Radev further said: “There’s no doubt that salaries need to rise, but we must distinguish between the overall amount of money for wages, a macroeconomic issue, and individual salaries. The current focus is too much on individual pay rather than on the broader wage fund. We need better control over the total wage expenditure. This doesn’t mean freezing or cutting individual salaries, but it does mean reforms are essential.” He pointed out that in some public systems, 70–90% of total spending goes toward salaries, leaving little room for investment or facilities and equipment. “These issues must be seriously addressed,” he added. Radev said that proposals to freeze salaries are misguided and send the wrong signals. Instead, he believes parliament is the proper place for a meaningful discussion, especially as the 2026 budget approaches.

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Speaking to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), on Sunday, GERB Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva acknowledged that the upcoming budget will be a major challenge: “It will be difficult to have development-oriented policies, and it will be hard to fulfil all our commitments, especially ensuring fair pay for people employed in public administration and other sectors with essential public functions, such as healthcare, education, defence, and security without raising taxes. This is particularly true given the new context: this will be our first budget in euros.” She added: “There’s no doubt it will be a tough challenge, but we are firmly committed to going through with it, the parties in the governing coalition and those supporting Bulgaria’s European future.”

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Speaking on the same programme, former finance minister and Continue the Change Chair Assen Vassilev, warned that it's very difficult to prepare a realistic budget for 2026 when the 2025 one is already on shaky ground. He criticized the 2025 revenue projections as overly optimistic, noting that VAT revenues are currently 14.4% higher than the previous year, but the budget counted on a 30% increase, creating a shortfall of around BGN 3 billion. He pointed out that due to the lack of reform in the Anti-Corruption Commission, some EU funds will not be received, leading to another BGN 3 billion in unrealized revenue. If spending continues as planned, the actual budget deficit could double. He accused the government of allocating BGN 9 billion to political ally [MRF – New Beginning leader] Delyan Peevski, while failing to find BGN 240 million to support young doctors and medical staff, despite the upcoming more that BGN 1 billion increase in the National Health Insurance Fund’s budget. “A quarter of that increase would be enough to raise salaries across the healthcare sector, but there’s no political will to do it,” he added. Vassilev said the next major political battle will be over the 2026 budget and warned that failure to ensure fair pay for medical workers could become grounds for a no-confidence vote against the government.

FLOODS AFTERMATH

Speaking on the morning programme of Nova TV, National Construction Control Directorate (NCCD) head Lilyana Petrova, commented on the recent flooding in the Elenite resort and the controversial Negresco Hotel, which was built on top of the Kozluka riverbed. Petrova explained that the approval of detailed development plans falls under municipal authority. The plan for the complex was approved by Nessebar’s municipal council in 2006, and the hotel’s construction documents were approved by the chief municipal architect in 2007. Such plans can only be challenged through court procedures, while decisions by municipal councils are overseen by the regional governor. She clarified that construction oversight in Bulgaria depends on the category of the building. The municipality was fully responsible for the hotel’s approval, construction permit, and commissioning. Petrova said the NCCD will now issue a statement of illegal construction concerning the modifications to the Kozluka riverbed carried out without the necessary permits. The prosecution will be notified, and if it finds grounds, it can appeal the building permits of the hotel in court. If these documents are annulled, the building will be declared unlawful and subject to demolition. While owners of apartments in the hotel are considered not at fault, the main responsibility lies with the investors who developed the project. By law, owners are expected to demolish the building voluntarily; otherwise, authorities will enforce removal. Affected owners may sue the investors for damages. Petrova said that cases of buildings obstructing river paths are rare in Bulgaria.

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The Duma Daily’s front-page story also talks about the disaster in the Elenite resort which took the lives of four people, quoting the National Construction Control Directorate as saying the state is ready to demolish the hotel and nearby aquapark. The article says that in response to recent flooding, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov stated that the environment minister has ordered inspections of all resort complexes where overdevelopment has long been a concern. Zafirov, who is also the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, emphasized that the government will take a preventive approach in such cases. Asked whether illegal buildings will be demolished, he said: “If the state wants to earn respect, this is exactly how it should act.” He added that he would personally “get on the bulldozer” to help demolish illegal constructions, regardless of who is behind them, if it's proven they were built unlawfully.

SOFIA WASTE CRISIS

In an interview for bTV, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev talked about the garbage collection issue in two boroughs of Sofia, which arose after the municipality refused to sign a contract with the only remaining company in the cleaning tender. The reason was the company's proposed price of BGN 420 per tonne, almost three times higher than the current BGN 144 and far above the municipality’s estimated price. Mayor Terziev stated the price was not market-based and would have significantly impacted residents’ taxes if accepted. He added that previous efforts to involve other companies failed, one Turkish company withdrew after its trucks were set on fire, and another lost its license shortly after receiving it. The entire process, he said, was marred by pressure and absurd situations not in the public’s interest. Responding to criticism about the late announcement of the tender, Terziev said such remarks come from people without real responsibility. He emphasized that waste management reform began on his first day in office, citing issues inherited from the previous administration, including non-functional waste facilities and expired contracts. Looking ahead, Terziev assured that the municipality is preparing measures to avoid a new crisis when contracts for 18 boroughs expire. Options include direct negotiations, new contracts, and strengthening municipal waste enterprises like Sofecostroy.

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In an interview for BNR on Sunday, Sofia Deputy Mayor for Green Systems, Ecology and Land Use Nadezhda Bobcheva provided an update on the city's waste collection crisis. She said progress is being made thanks to donated garbage trucks from several municipalities and civil groups. While the system isn't fully restored, more equipment and workers are expected soon. Bobcheva thanked volunteers helping in the hardest-hit areas and stressed the need for better waste separation. Bobcheva criticized delays and interference in the public procurement process and called on the state to explain incidents like the burning of trucks and license revocations affecting key bidders. She commented on the sudden political support of municipal councillors for having the municipal company Sofecostroy take over waste services. The summoning of Bobcheva and Nikolay Savov, the director of the municipal waste plant, for questioning not related to the current waste crisis, but rather to an old report, by the state prosecution was rather suspiciously timed, she added.

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A BNR report mentions sabotage of cleanup efforts in Sofia’s Lyulin and Krasno Selo boroughs which have been struggling with waste collection in the past week. Social media is filled with photos of overflowing gray containers surrounded by colourful trash bags, bulky waste, and black garbage sacks. In some areas, people (including BNR staff) reported deliberate acts of sabotage, such as bags being cut open and unusual waste, including construction materials and old furniture being dumped next to containers. For BNR, Nikolay Savov, the director of the municipal waste plant, confirmed that the crisis has been worsened by the illegal disposal of large items like sofas and building waste. He emphasized that such waste should not be thrown into mixed household containers. Nikolay Nedelkov, head of the Sofia Inspectorate Directorate, told BNR the situation is gradually improving thanks to the efforts of volunteers and support from nearby municipalities, who have donated trucks. Officials are urging citizens to be more responsible and not to dispose of inappropriate items, as this adds unnecessary strain to the cleanup operations during an already difficult time. Emil Georgiev, Director of the Waste Management Planning and Control Department at Sofia Municipality, appealed: "If you notice anything like this, report it to the Sofia Municipality Contact Centre.”

MEDIA AND POLITICS

Media analyst Zhana Popova, lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sofia University, told BNR that it’s time to revise or rewrite the Radio and Television Act, which still uses outdated terminology like “operators” instead of “media.” This is especially problematic now that the law also covers online media, she added. She criticized a proposed amendment to the Penal Code from the There Is Such a People (TISP) party, saying it is being introduced improperly and without public discussion. According to her, laws that affect personal rights should be openly debated. Popova said that who proposes the law doesn't matter if most members of the parliamentary Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs approve it without real scrutiny. She added that in court, there’s no such thing as a “tabloid media” category, the key issue is whether personal privacy has been violated. She warned that journalists and media are vulnerable to threats, even for reporting in the public interest. Despite major scandals uncovered by journalists, there are rarely legal consequences, and public discourse often ends up being the only form of accountability. She criticized TISP leader Slavi Trifonov for suggesting that the courts will distinguish between responsible and irresponsible journalism, pointing to the lack of trust in Bulgaria's judiciary, “we live in a country where we have problems with the Prosecutor General, how can we trust the court that it will distinguish between the two,” Popova said.

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Speaking to BNR, GERB Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva said that GERB will not support any laws that criminalize journalism. She underscored the debate should focus on personal privacy, not on journalist-politician relations, and called for broader public discussion and new legislation.

LOCAL ELECTIONS

All online media, including Segabg.com, Mediapool.bg and Dnevnik.bg report on the local elections for municipal councillors in Pazardzhik, Southern Bulgaria. With 94% of protocols processed, the leading party is Movement for Rights and Freedoms - New Beginning with just under 17%, followed by Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria with 12.41%, and surprisingly, Segabg.com reports, the newly emerged Freedom party, led by businessman and councillor Rumen Dimitrov in third place with over 9%. The Bulgarian Socialist Party follows with 7.65%, GERB with 6.38%, and VMRO, linked to former mayor Todor Popov, trails with under 6%. GERB's performance is noted as particularly weak. A total of 597 candidates competed for 41 seats, with voter turnout at 35.09%, slightly down from the 39.42% in the annulled 2023 elections, which were invalidated due to numerous violations. Election day was tense, marked by citizen-led "hunts" for alleged vote-buyers, viral videos, and "citizens' arrests" in Roma villages like Ognyanovo, where people claimed police failed to act. Despite the commotion, the police deployed additional forces but reported no irregularities, and the electoral commission received no official complaints. While the vote count protocols contained many errors, they were attributed to haste.

ENERGY

In an interview for BNT, asked whether there is a potential buyer for Lukoil Neftochim Burgas, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov responded: “The role of the opposition is often to spread fear or circulate unverified information. It’s important to point out that the Minister of Energy exercises oversight of Lukoil Neftochim through the state’s golden share. We have a representative on the Supervisory Board, who has informed me that no expression of interest has been made. There has never been an official discussion at board level about any buyer showing interest or negotiations taking place. Naturally, the state must use all available tools to ensure one key thing: security. Even before Lukoil acquired it, Neftochim Burgas was designated in a Council of Ministers decree as part of Bulgaria’s critical infrastructure, essential for national security… At the start of this government’s term, we also established a screening mechanism, led by Deputy Prime Minister [Tomislav] Donchev, to ensure that the sale or acquisition of such strategic assets can only occur under strict state oversight.”

ECONOMY

In its front-page article the Telegraf Daily tried to calculate how much basic foodstuffs increase prices from the wholesale distributor to the store shelves by comparing prices on the Consumer Protection Commission’s price monitoring website kolkostruva.bg and prices reported by the Commodity Exchange and Wholesale Markets State Commission, which deals with the regulation and control of the establishment and operation of the organization of commodity markets in the country. The attempt was not very successful since it turned out that there are no unified criteria and institutions monitor different basic foodstuffs, for example one monitors the price of frozen chicken, while the other of fresh or chilled chicken. It turns out that bread, butter and fresh vegetables have seen the steepest price hikes, according to a study by the Institute for Market Economics, Adrian Nikolov from the Institute told Telegraf. When analyzed in greater detail, bread is now the most expensive commodity in the last nine years, with the price index for bread reaching 223 compared to 2015. Butter, fresh vegetables (excluding potatoes), and potatoes have similarly experienced substantial price increases, the article reads.

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24 Chasa’s front-page story talks about the upcoming adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026. Experts warn that people who are planning to spend Christmas or New Years Eve at a restaurant should be ready to pay around 25% more than last year. Those who plan to celebrate New Years Eve in a restaurant should have cash in euro and levs to be able to pay for their taxi, for example, even if their restaurant bill has been paid in advance, the article reads.  Banks have tested their ATMs and say they will work with levs until midnight, but that for about 30-45 minutes after midnight, it is possible that the ATMs and POS terminals might temporarily stop working. Experts advise people to have some cash available to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

HEALTHCARE

Trud Daily’s lead story focuses on the early arrival of the flu season and the optimal time for vaccination. In addition to the three expected influenza strains, the article notes that rhinoviruses and bocaviruses are also contributing to respiratory illnesses, particularly in children. A key complication of influenza, it warns, is bacterial pneumonia. Flu season has started early in Bulgaria, National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Director Iva Hristova told Trud. The first official case was confirmed on October 10 in a 3-year-old child from Sofia, earlier than in previous years. This season, three flu strains are expected: two Type A and one Type B, which are typical each year. A second Type B strain has not been detected for nearly five years, which is why most flu vaccines this year are trivalent. Flu vaccinations are recommended before the end of November, with doses expected to arrive in stages by late October.