Bulgarian Dispatch

02/09/2024

Representatives of the two wings of the MRF, those supporting honourary chairman Ahmed Dogan, and those supporting Delyan Peevski, are in the building of the Central Election Commission to submit registration documents for the upcoming elections.

Representatives of the two wings of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms party, those supporting the Honourary Chair Ahmed Dogan, and those supporting Delyan Peevski, are in the building of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to submit registration documents for the upcoming elections, as evidence...

02/09/2024

A woman with dual US-Bulgarian citizenship was arrested and then released for protesting outside the Russian Cultural and Information Centre in Sofia, writing "murderers" in chalk on the building and burning the Russian flag.

A woman with dual US-Bulgarian citizenship was arrested and then released for protesting outside the Russian Cultural and Information Centre in Sofia, writing "murderers" in chalk on the building and burning the Russian flag.

02/09/2024

The national council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voted by an overwhelming majority at a meeting on September 1 to expel former BSP leader Kornelia Ninova from the party.

The national council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) voted by an overwhelming majority at a meeting on September 1 to expel former BSP leader Kornelia Ninova from the party. Seven reasons we…

31/08/2024

Bulgaria submitted to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen two candidates for Commissioner, reportedly becoming the only country to answer her request of proposing one male and one female applicant, on Friday.

Bulgaria submitted to Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, two candidates for Commissioner, reportedly becoming the only country to answer her request of proposing one male and one female applicant, on Friday (30 August).

29/08/2024

Since the beginning of 2021, Bulgaria has spent nearly BGN 514,716,900 on holding parliamentary elections, including the funds for holding the regular presidential elections and the European Parliament vote in early June.

At the end of October, Bulgarian voters will again go to the polls to vote for Members of Parliament, this time for the 51st National Assembly. These are the seventh parliamentary elections in a row, and the sixth early ones. Since the beginning of 2021, this country has spent nearly BGN 514,716,900...

29/08/2024

Among those who intend voting in Bulgaria’s latest early parliamentary elections, to be held on October 27, Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF coalition has 21.9 per cent support: Market Links.

Among those who intend voting in Bulgaria’s latest early parliamentary elections, to be held on October 27, Boiko Borissov’s GERB-UDF coalition has 21.9 per cent support, according to a…

29/08/2024

The second caretaker government, which took the oath of office earlier on August 27, is largely unchanged from the first Glavchev cabinet, featuring three new ministers – including in the foreign affairs portfolio.

29/08/2024

President Rumen Radev has decreed the appointment of the caretaker government and has scheduled general elections on October 27, the head of state's press secretariat said.

President Rumen Radev has decreed the appointment of the caretaker government and has scheduled general elections on October 27, the head of state's press secretariat said.

24/08/2024

Any action that creates conditions for stigmatisation of a group of people, persecution, division and hatred in society is contrary to all the leading international human rights standards: Ombudsman.

Any action that creates conditions for stigmatisation of a group of people, persecution, division and hatred in society is contrary to all the leading international human rights standards that the Republic of Bulgaria, as a country governed...

24/08/2024

A 1.2 billion lev tender launched under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan for construction of renewable energy storage facilities seeks to increase the share of wind and solar power in Bulgaria’s energy mix.

Bulgaria said it has launched a 1.2 billion lev ($683 million/614 million euro) tender for construction of renewable energy storage facilities, designed to increase the share of....

24/08/2024

Outrage has ensued after the Varna branch of pro-Kremlin minority party Vuzrazhdane published a list of educators who signed a petition against recent amendments to education law banning “LGBT propaganda” in schools.

Outrage has ensued after the Varna branch of Bulgarian pro-Kremlin minority party Vuzrazhdane published a list of educators who signed a petition against recent amendments to education law banning …

24/08/2024

President Radev has given caretaker PM-designate Dimitar Glavchev an August 26 date to propose the line-up of an interim government, so that Radev may decree October 27 as the date for the next early parliamentary elections.

Bulgarian head of state President Roumen Radev has given caretaker Prime Minister-designate Dimitar Glavchev an August 26 date to propose the line-up of an interim government, so that Radev may dec…

22/08/2024

Support for NATO membership has soared since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with approval rising from 28% to 40% over the past seven years, according to a recent survey.

In Bulgaria, support for NATO membership has soared since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with approval rising from 28% to 40% over the past seven years, according to a recent survey, which also points to growing support for the EU and declining support for Russia.

21/08/2024

In continuation of the constitutional procedure for appointing a caretaker government, head of State Rumen Radev will hold meetings and talks Wednesday with the persons designated in the Constitution who can be appointed caretaker prime minister.

In continuation of the constitutional procedure for appointing a caretaker government, head of State Rumen Radev will hold meetings and talks Wednesday with the persons designated in the Constitution who can be appointed caretaker prime minister, the presidential press secretariat said on Wednesday.

21/08/2024

Talks among some of political groups on August 20 to resolve the issue of vacancies in posts eligible to serve as caretaker Prime Minister appear to have come to nothing.

Talks among some of Bulgaria’s political groups on August 20 to resolve the issue of vacancies in posts eligible to serve as caretaker Prime Minister appear to have come to nothing. The talks…

20/08/2024

Caretaker Prime Minister-designate Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva's complaint about pressure on her was received by the Sofia City Prosecution Office, the Prosecution Service told BTA on Tuesday.

Caretaker Prime Minister-designate Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva's complaint about pressure on her was received by the Sofia City Prosecution Office, the Prosecution Service told BTA on Tuesday.

20/08/2024

The political crisis raging for over three years is about to turn into a constitutional deadlock after President Radev refused on Monday to appoint a new caretaker government to hold early parliamentary elections.

The political crisis raging in Bulgaria for over three years is about to turn into a constitutional deadlock after President Rumen Radev refused on Monday to appoint a new caretaker government to hold early parliamentary elections.

19/08/2024

Greenhouse gas emissions in Bulgaria in the first quarter of 2024 were 15.2 per cent lower than in the first quarter of 2023, the largest reduction in the European Union: Eurostat.

Greenhouse gas emissions in Bulgaria in the first quarter of 2024 were 15.2 per cent lower than in the first quarter of 2023, the largest reduction in the European Union, EU statistics agency Euros…

19/08/2024

A new conflict between the interim PM, the President and the Interior Minister delays the creation of a caretaker cabinet and the next general elections, risking further institutional crisis.

A new conflict between the interim PM, the President and the Interior Minister delays the creation of a caretaker cabinet and the next general elections, risking further institutional crisis.

16/08/2024

Up to half of Bulgaria's population may face water shortages within a year due to climate change and unusually hot weather.

Up to half of Bulgaria's population may face water shortages within a year due to climate change and unusually hot weather, climate change expert ...

16/08/2024

There is political controversy about actions by the anti-corruption commission, prosecutors and anti-organised crime directorate against business people, which critics say is linked to faction fighting within the MRF.

There is political controversy in Bulgaria about actions by the anti-corruption commission, prosecutors and anti-organised crime directorate against business people, that critics say is linked to t…

16/08/2024

Protesters in Sofia staged a new demonstration against a legal amendment banning “propaganda” for LGBTQ+ issues in schools - but Bulgarian nationalists held a counter-demonstration, demanding even harsher measures.

Protesters in Sofia staged a new demonstration against a legal amendment banning “propaganda” for LGBTQ+ issues in schools - but Bulgarian nationalists held a counter-demonstration, demanding even harsher measures

15/08/2024

President Radev has signed into law a recently adopted amendment banning LGBT "promotion" in schools despite calls to veto it as human rights groups are preparing to stage a protest against the measure on August 15.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has signed into law a recently adopted amendment banning LGBT "promotion" in schools despite calls to veto it from Bulgarian intellectuals as rights groups are preparing to stage a protest against the measure on August 15.

13/08/2024

Caretaker Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova told journalists in front of the parliament building that she has received an invitation to stay in the cabinet and has accepted it.

Caretaker Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova told journalists in front of the parliament building that she has received an invitation to stay in the cabinet and has accepted it

13/08/2024

If you asked a Bulgarian politician who is to blame for the ongoing political crisis, where the country is facing its seventh election in three years, they would most likely lay the blame squarely at Peevski's door.

If you asked a Bulgarian politician who was to blame for the country's ongoing political crisis, they would most likely all give you the same name: Delyan Peevski, a shadowy oligarch who, his critics allege, has captured the state.

12/08/2024

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty urged President Rumen Radev not to sign a controversial bill that banned "propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation".

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty urged President Rumen Radev not to sign a controversial bill that banned "propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation". He also urged the

12/08/2024

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has lodged charges of leading an organised crime group and of money laundering against Ruja Ignatova, founder of the OneCoin large-scale fraud scheme.

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has lodged charges of leading an organised crime group and of money laundering against Ruja Ignatova, founder of the OneCoin large-scale fraud scheme, the B…

12/08/2024

Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev has urged Western news organisations to withdraw any correspondents working in Russia.

Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev urged Western news organizations to withdraw any correspondents working in Russia, saying the value of having reporters there is outweighed by the risk of having them seized and used by the Kremlin as an asset in future prisoner swaps.

11/08/2024

"I am here because I believe that being an LGBT person is not propaganda," said Simona, a 25-year-old woman who was protesting close to parliament.

Protesters have turned out in force in Sofia after the Bulgarian parliament passed an amendment to ban LGBT "propaganda" in schools. Protesters say that the new legal ban will harm not only young LGBT people but also heterosexuals.

09/08/2024

President Rumen Radev has selected Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, the deputy chairwoman of the Audit Chamber, to serve as acting prime minister.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has selected Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, the deputy chairwoman of the Audit Chamber, to serve as acting prime minister and tasked her with forming an acting cabinet.