Sozopol Transforms into Bulgaria’s Cultural Heartbeat with Apollonia Arts Festival 2025
Sozopol is once again set to become Bulgaria’s summer cultural hub as the Apollonia Arts Festival returns this year from August 28 to September 6
Bulgaria’s nationalist leader Volen Siderov is not fit to head the parliamentary body for corruption combat and should be dismissed, a respected political scientist argues.
"Unless the ruling Socialists and ethnic Turks dismiss Siderov, they will be held responsible for his anti-constitutional and anti-European behavior,” Ivan Krastev, a prominent Bulgarian political scientist and Chairman of Board of the Centre for Liberal Strategies, said in an interview for 24 Hours daily.“I am convinced that the last thing the Party of European Socialists expects its leader to do is lend credibility to the far-right xenophobic formations in Europe,” Krastev added.
“Bulgaria’s current government is supported only by the party of Delyan Peevski and the party of Siderov,” he added, referring to the ethnic Turkish and nationalist parties.
“Everybody else are being held hostages. This is the reason why the government may not govern even if it stays in office.”
Earlier in the week MPs decided that Volen Siderov will head the parliamentary body for corruption combat, conflict of interests and ethics.Socialist leader Sergey Stanishev had hinted before at this development, saying that this post is the only thing Siderov wanted for his party.
"I see no reason why not to give that post to him,” Stanishev said, turning a blind eye to the nationalist controversial reputation and recent displays of arrogance.
Bulgaria's leaders have been for years the subject of humiliating criticism by the European Commission, worried about endemic corruption and links between organised crime and some bits of the governments.
Siderov’s election made analysts draw comparisons with the leader of another party, which entered the previous parliament campaigning against corruption, Order, Law and Justice.
Its leader, Yane Yanev, had a habit of producing classified information to back up his claims. That prompted accusations, which he denied, that he is a front for the secret services.
Brussels has unofficially warned Bulgaria’s Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova that the country’s euro adoption process could be suspended, according to BGNES, citing Nova TV.
"Everyone wants positions – in regulatory bodies and ministries," he emphasized.
Bulgaria’s toll system now has the technical capability to track average vehicle speeds, as announced by the National Toll Management following a meeting with Regional Development Minister Violeta Koritarova.
The income required to cover living expenses for a working individual and a three-member family with a child under 14 has remained almost unchanged compared to June, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CI
The Council of Ministers has adopted a resolution to set the minimum wage at 1,077 leva, reflecting a 15.
Every 20 minutes, fire alerts are received from across Bulgaria.
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