Bulgaria Grapples with Soaring Corruption Rates: New Report Reveals Shocking Data
Corruption in Bulgaria has soared to its third highest peak in history, according to a recent report by the Center for the Study of Democracy
A narrow-gauge train in Southwestern Bulgaria "is a lifeline for surrounding villages, but could face the axe," Channel News Asia warns in a report.
This happens as Bulgaria's state railways, hobbled by "corruption and mismanagement," are seeking to modernize a network mired "in losses and debt", according to Channel News.
"Many lines have barely changed since the fall of Communism in 1989, despite a sharp drop in population due to emigration and an end to the planned economy... But the Septemvri–Dobrinishte line through what was once ancient Thrace has long been part of the local community," it notes.
It also reminds of plans of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to pursue reform in the Bulgarian State Railways, (BDZ), which employs over 20 000 staff, by laying off 1200 people and privatizing its cargo business.
Another issue touched here is the malpractice of stealing fuel from the trains, worth millions in the past years.
Last year, there was a loss of BGN 51 M for BDZ which the government cited to put an emphasis on the need for reform.
The report is available here.
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Brazen Bulgarian gangs "terrorise the elderly and rob them over their life savings with increasingly aggressive phone scams nettling millions of euros," according to an AFP story.
The prospect of US President Donald Trump's moving closer to Russia has scrambled the strategy of "balancing East and West" used for decades by countries like Bulgaria, the New York Times says.
Bulgarians have benefited a lot from their EU membership, with incomes rising and Brussels overseeing politicians, according to a New York Times piece.
German businesses prefer to trade with Bulgaria rather than invest into the country, an article on DW Bulgaria's website argues.
The truth about Bulgaria and Moldova's presidential elections is "more complicated" and should not be reduced to pro-Russian candidates winning, the Economist says.
President-elect Rumen Radev "struck a chord with voters by attacking the status quo and stressing issues like national security and migration," AFP agency writes after the presidential vote on Sunday.
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