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19 June 2013, Issue 3677

by Novinite.com

Bulgaria's Daily Newspaper since 2001

9868 subscribers of Novinite.com

134125 articles

590 interviews

8629 pictures

 

Bulgaria's GERB To Stay Out of Parliament to Avoid Provocations


Boyko Borisov, former Prime Minister and leader of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, has threatened that GERB MPs will not show up in Parliament. read

PES Meet in Sofia, Bulgarian Chief Faces Growing Opposition


The entire leadership of the Party of European Socialists, PES, is going to arrive in Sofia, at a time Bulgarian leader, Sergey Stanishev, is facing growing problems and pressure. read

Extremist Clashes Mar Sofia Peaceful Anti-Govt Rally


The end of the fourth day of protest rallies in the Bulgarian capital Sofia against the Cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, was marred by clashes between extremist nationalist groups. read

MORE TOP NEWS Peevski's Future Stirs New Controversy in Bulgaria New Blagoevgrad Governor Fails to Show for Work Plovdiv Residents Rise against New Governor Bulgarian President Targeted in Smear Campaign Bulgaria Sees Fifth Day of Anti-Government Protests Bulgarian Energy Holding CEO Dismissed New IMF Resident Representative in Bulgaria, Romania Bulgarian PM Puts New Public Funds Rules on Fast Track IMF Mission to Visit Bulgaria End of June with New Head Freedom House: Independence of Bulgarian Media Kept Deteriorating in 2012

VIEWS ON BG Concerns over Security Agency Choice Show Need for Bulgaria Reforms Thousands Protest in Bulgaria against Two-week-old government

UPS & DOWNS Bulgarian Beauty 4th at Miss World Sweden Bulgaria's Naimova Tests Positive for Doping

POLL Which is the best option for Bulgaria after the heavy blow protests blew to the new government, headed by Plamen Oresharski?  New early elections.  Urgent measures to revive the economy.  There is no useful move left. |  Results  Other: share in the forum

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BULGARIAâЂ™S EMBATTLED SOCIALIST LEADER TO FACE CONFIDENCE VOTE

Bulgaria’s Socialist leader has urged his party to hold a confidence vote and decide his future amid a flood of calls to resign.

Members of the Socialist party have launched a sign-up in a bid to topple their leader following the surprise appointment of a controversial new head of the national security agency.

They claim Delyan Peevski’s nomination and election discredit gravely their formation and may even spell its death and want the head of their leader on a platter.

Stanishev however has so far ruled out quitting his post over the furor that the election of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski for new security chief triggered.

Now he says he is ready to face a confidence vote by the party's national council.

“My resignation will not make our party or the government stronger, on the contrary. I am ready to face a vote of confidence by the national council of the party. Many people don’t trust me any more, I am ready to tell the whole truth,” Stanishev said at a press conference on Tuesday.

According to Stanishev it would be irresponsible to resign at the current point because it would fulfill the dream scenario of former Prime Minister and leader of center-right party GERB, Boyko Borisov, and former Interior Minister and Deputy GERB Chair, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, of GERB coming back to power.

Stanishev claimed that a resignation of the Chair of BSP would cause a crisis within the party and would not help stabilize the government of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski but would have precisely the opposite effect.

He defined the nomination and appointment of Peevski as DANS Chair as a serious political mistake and an important lesson for BSP.

Meanwhile, the press office of the socialist party announced that a number of district units of BSP across the country had expressed their support for Stanishev and the government headed by Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

Peevski's appointment triggered an outburst of the public discontent, causing Bulgarians in a number of cities to take to the streets for three days in a row, calling for the resignation of the socialist-led government headed by Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

According to sources close to the matter, as cited by local media, Delyan Peevski was nominated by Stanishev and he imposed the candidate despite the reservations of Oresharski.

Oresharski lent credibility to the allegations by admitting in a Monday interview for bTV that Peevski's nomination had been discussed at a meeting with Stanishev and Lyutvi Mestan, leader of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS).

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, however, refused to specify who of the three had come up with Peevski's nomination.

The Sofia city unit of BSP is chaired by Anna Yaneva, who was appointed Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy by Oresharski on Thursday.

Yaneva is believed to be one of the closest allies of Rumen Ovcharov, former Economy and Energy Minister, whose deputy she was during the term in office of the three-way coalition government.

However, the motion calling for Stanishev's resignation is said to have been initiated by other BSP members.

On Sunday, the BSP unit in Sofia's Vitosha residential district also demanded that the leader of the party step down. read more

TIME WARNER ACQUIRES BULGARIAâЂ™S BTV OWNER CME

The European Commission has cleared the proposed acquisition of Central European Media Enterprises ("CME"), based in Bermuda, by Time Warner of the United States.

The Commission's investigation confirmed that the proposed transaction will not have negative effects on competition, since the activities of the parties are mainly complementary and not in direct competition with each other. read more

LABOR COSTS OF BULGARIAN EMPLOYERS UP 4.7% Y/Y IN Q1, 2013

Total hourly labor costs increased by 4.7% year-over-year in Q1, 2013, according to preliminary data of Bulgaria's National Statistical Institute (NSI).

Total hourly labor costs grew by 4.2% in the industry sector and by 4.8% in the service sector, while construction registered a 0.4% decrease in total hourly labor costs. read more

BULGARIAN PM PUTS NEW PUBLIC FUNDS RULES ON FAST TRACK

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, says he had ordered to speed up the enforcement of the new rules designed to de-concentrate investment of public funds into private financial institutions.

Oresharski confirmed his Cabinet has inherited from the caretaker government the ordinance establishing a new concentration ceiling for public funds invested by agencies, companies, hospitals and the like that have more than 50% State participation. read more

NEW IMF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN BULGARIA, ROMANIA

Tonny Lybek, IMF Resident Representative in Romania and Bulgaria, has announced the end of his term. He will be succeeded by Guillermo Tolosa.

"After over 4 years, my term as IMF’s Resident Representative in Romania and Bulgaria is coming to an end. I am very pleased to announce that my successor is Guillermo Tolosa, who will begin his assignment on July 1, 2013,” Tonny Lybek said in an official statement.

Mr. Tolosa, a Uruguayan citizen, is currently the IMF Resident Representative to Armenia, where he has worked closely with the authorities on their economic program supported by the IMF.

Prior to that, he held a variety of assignments at the IMF, including contributing to the institution’s strategic thinking and developing macroeconomic policy analysis in a number of countries in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Before joining the IMF, Mr. Tolosa served as an economist and economics professor at the Centre of Economic Research (CINVE) in Uruguay and at the University of the
Republic of Uruguay.

Throughout his career, Mr. Tolosa has earned a variety of scholarships and has written several papers on various policy issues.

Mr. Tolosa holds a PhD in Economics from University of California, Los Angeles. read more

IMF MISSION TO VISIT BULGARIA END OF JUNE WITH NEW HEAD

A mission of the International Monetary Fund will visit Sofia from June 27 till July 3 2013 to hold regular bilateral discussions on economic policies with the Bulgarian authorities, the fund announced.

The mission will be headed by Ms. Michele Shannon, who has recently assumed mission chief responsibilities for Bulgaria. This will be Ms. Shannon's first visit to the country.

Ms. Michele Shannon succeeds Ms. Catriona Purfield, whose term expired last year.

The mission will discuss recent economic developments and prospects with the Bulgarian authorities.

Meetings with officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Bulgarian National Bank, other government institutions, as well as representatives from the private sector have been scheduled. read more

BULGARIAN ENERGY HOLDING CEO DISMISSED

Mihail Andonov, Chief Executive Officer of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH), has been dismissed.

Andonov, former CEO of the National Electric Company (NEK), was appointed CEO of BEH in March 2012. read more

PES MEET IN SOFIA, BULGARIAN CHIEF FACES GROWING OPPOSITION

The entire leadership of the Party of European Socialists, PES, is going to arrive in Sofia, at a time Bulgarian leader, Sergey Stanishev, is facing growing problems and pressure.

Bulgarian citizens have staged mass protest rallies for four days in a row sparked by the outrageous decision of the government and the Parliament to appoint controversial media mogul and lawmaker Delyan Peevski as Chair of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) with PES leader and Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, leader Sergey Stanishev seen as one of the masterminds behind the plan. read more

BULGARIA'S GERB TO STAY OUT OF PARLIAMENT TO AVOID PROVOCATIONS

Boyko Borisov, former Prime Minister and leader of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, has threatened that GERB MPs will not show up in Parliament.

Speaking Tuesday after a meeting of the parliamentary group of GERB, Borisov made clear that the MPs of the party would only attend sittings concerning Election Code amendments. read more

ROUND TABLE ON ELECTION CODE OVERHAUL HELD IN BULGARIA

Bulgarian citizens want a full overhaul of the Election Code, according to the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Maya Manolova.

Manolova, a Member of the Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, called Tuesday a round table with representatives of civic organizations, NGOs, and citizens to hear their proposals for amending the Election Code. read more

NEW BLAGOEVGRAD GOVERNOR FAILS TO SHOW FOR WORK

The newly appointed governor of Blagoevgrad Musa Palev, from the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS,) did not show up in the Municipal Administration in his second work day.

Meanwhile, protesters in Blagoevgrad stormed into the building to check whether the employees perform their duties, "24 Chasa" (24 Hours) daily reported. read more

PLOVDIV RESIDENTS RISE AGAINST NEW GOVERNOR

Dozens of people gathered outside the building of the regional administration in Plovdiv to protest against the inauguration of the new governor Ventsislav Kaymakanov.

Media reports that Kaymakanov is part of the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedom (DPS) provoked the protest. read more

PEEVSKI'S FUTURE STIRS NEW CONTROVERSY IN BULGARIA

Controversial Bulgarian media mogul and lawmaker, Delyan Peevski, has withdrawn his application for the suspension of his parliamentary mandate.

The leader of the predominantly ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, Lyutvi Mestan, is quoted in saying that Peevski had not effectively taken the office of Director of the National Security Agency, DANS, and the Parliament had not terminated his MP powers, thus he could rejoin without problems the 42nd General Assembly. read more

EXTREMIST CLASHES MAR SOFIA PEACEFUL ANTI-GOVT RALLY

The end of the fourth day of protest rallies in the Bulgarian capital Sofia against the Cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, was marred by clashes between extremist nationalist groups.

After a very peaceful evening, tensions escalated once again in front of the headquarters of the far-right nationalist Ataka party, growing to a battle with throwing bottles, some filled with stones and sand, and rocks. read more

BULGARIAN PRESIDENT TARGETED IN SMEAR CAMPAIGN

Information that Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev had offshore companies in Cyprus where he concealed USD 1 M has emerged to be a fabrication.

The site for investigative journalism Bivol.bg writes Tuesday that the above claims about Plevneliev have been grounded on false citing of Offshoreleaks and on forged documents published in pdf format. read more

BULGARIAN STOCK BREEDERS TO STAGE PROTESTS OVER INEFFICIENT GOVT

Bulgarian stock breeders have threatened to start protests over the inaction of the government of the socialist-led government of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

Boyko Sinapov, Chair of the National Association of Stock Breeders, told the Focus news agency Tuesday that the regional structures of the Association would meet Wednesday to decide when and where the protests would take place. read more

BULGARIA EX GOLDEN GIRLS COACH SETS UP PARTY WITH OLYMPIC AMBITIONS

Bulgaria's former rhythmic gymnastics coach Iliyana Raeva, who set off on a political career earlier this year, will officially establish her party on June 22.

The new party, called “United Bulgaria”, is getting wide support from Bulgarian communities all over the world and has the ambition to put an end to the era of dirty politics, Raeva says. read more

BULGARIA'S MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS SETTLE IN MUTRO-BAROQUE HOTEL

A hotel, best known for its awkward, mutro-baroque replica of Rio de Janeiro's icon – Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Bulgaria's second-biggest city of Plovdiv, will accommodate state officials.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, originally a symbol of peace, was erected on the seven-floor hotel in the center of the city, while owned by Bulgarian rapper and pimp Ivan Glavchev aka Vanko 1, in line with the lavish kitsch and garishness of the nouveau riche lifestyle. read more

BULGARIA SEES FIFTH DAY OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS

For a fifth day in a row, thousands of Bulgarians have gathered in front of the Council of Ministers building in Sofia to demand the resignation of the socialist-led government of Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.

The number of protesters on fifth day of demonstrations in Sofia has dropped to around 7000, according to reports of the Interior Ministry, as cited by Sega daily. read more

FREEDOM HOUSE: INDEPENDENCE OF BULGARIAN MEDIA KEPT DETERIORATING IN 2012

Media freedom in Bulgaria kept deteriorating in 2012, according to the Nations in Transit 2013 report of US NGO Freedom House.

According to the report, as cited by Capital daily, in 2012, the independence of Bulgaria's media sphere deteriorated further as ownership became more concentrated and leading outlets accused each other of corrupt dealings with the government, tax fraud, and other crimes. read more

14 EMBASSIES IN BULGARIA BACK SOFIA LGBT PARADE

14 Ambassadors to Bulgaria have voiced their support for this year's Sofia Pride LGBT parade scheduled to take place on June 22 in the capital.

The 6th edition of the Sofia Pride parade will be held under the motto: "Different People, Equal Rights." read more

BRITISH TEEN DIES IN BULGARIA RESORT BALCONY FALL, WENT FOR TAXI CASH

Tributes have been paid to a 19-year-old man who apparently fell from a Bulgarian hotel balcony after going to get money for a taxi, BBC reported.

Shaun Liam Davies, from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, went to get the cash after a night out at Sunny Beach resort on the Black Sea over the weekend. read more

CONCERNS OVER SECURITY AGENCY CHOICE SHOW NEED FOR BULGARIA REFORMS

Click here to read the story:
www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=151339

THOUSANDS PROTEST IN BULGARIA AGAINST TWO-WEEK-OLD GOVERNMENT

Click here to read the story:
www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=151336


GREEK BROADCASTER ERT REOPENS AFTER COURT VICTORY

A Greek court has ordered the state broadcaster ERT back on air while it is restructured, allowing squabbling leaders of the governing coalition to move towards a compromise that avoids early elections.

The top administrative court appeared to vindicate Samaras's stance that a leaner, cheaper public broadcaster must be set up but also allowed for ERT's immediate reopening as his two coalition partners had demanded, offering all three a way out of an impasse that had raised the spectre of a snap election. read more

NEW ARRESTS REPORTED IN TURKEY PROTESTS

Turkish police carried out dozens of arrests of members of the "extreme left" early Tuesday morning as the anti-government protests continue to rock the country since the end of May.

The BGNES news agency reports that police have arrested around 90 members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) in their homes in Istanbul, citign the Bar of Istanbul. read more

INNOVATIVE WAY OF PROTESTING STARTS IN TURKEY

Those dissatisfied with the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership in Turkey continue their demonstrations in the bigger cities, despite government strict measures by the use of new, unusual forms of protest.

Nova TV reported that a young man stood still and speechless on "Taksim" Square in Istanbul for several hours. Soon, about 100 people gathered and followed his example of standing without moving and talking. However, police intervened and dispersed the group and the young man was again standing alone on "Taksim" square. read more

US TO OPEN DIRECT TALIBAN TALKS

The US is to open direct peace talks with the Taliban, senior White House officials have announced, as cited by BBC.

The first meeting is due to take place in the next few days in the Qatari capital, Doha, where the Taliban is poised to open its long-awaited office. read more

DEUTSCHE BAHN TO SUSPEND OPERATIONS IN CORRUPTION-RIDDEN COUNTRIES

German railway company Deutsche Bahn, DB, is suspending operations in a number of countries with high levels of corruption.

Suddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday that DB was withdrawing from Greece, Algeria, Libya, Rwanda and Thailand due to the corruption risk. read more