Borissov Loses Patience: Political Bargaining Over Key Positions and Budget 2025
"Everyone wants positions – in regulatory bodies and ministries," he emphasized.
The GERB nomination for Bulgaria's new Health Minister, Anna-Maria Borisova . Photo by BGNES
The Members of the Parliament from the right-wing Blue Coalition retracted Friday their tentative support for the nomination of the ruling GERB party for Health Minister.
The statement was made Friday by Martin Dimitrov, co-Chair of the Blue Coalition and leader of one of its two parties – the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), who said the issue is pending.
“For now, the Coalition accepts Borisova's ideas for health care reform and deems her performance better than her initial media appearances,” MP Vanyo Sharkov said then, pointing out her strong will and desire for reform.
According to Dimitrov, the “Blues” still have many doubts because Borisova is refusing to publicly declare her program, sending signals that she is hesitant and does not know what to do.
In addition to a short TV interview, the only media appearance of the Health Minister-hopeful was Thursday in Plovdiv where she dismayed reporters by her refusal to answer questions and by persistently repeating one single phrase: “I am smiling.”
The UDF leader informed his party’s decision about their support or rejection will be made next Tuesday, adding if the nomination ends up being withdrawn, they will not propose their own candidate because they do not have a coalition agreement with GERB.
Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, declared meanwhile that Borisova is his one and only candidate and dissipated rumors that GERB MPs are split around the nomination.
He promised Borisova will be voted in the Parliament next Wednesday.
The leader of GERB closest ally, the far-right nationalist Ataka party, Volen Siderov, stated his MPs firm support for Borisova. The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the ethnic Turkish Movement for Right and Freedoms (DPS) already declared that they would not support the nomination in the Parliament.
The flu epidemic in Bulgaria has already passed its peak, according to Prof. Todor Kantardzhiev, former director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
Over 300,000 Bulgarians living with cancer were registered in the National Health Information System in 2025, marking an increase of 15,000 cases compared to 2024.
The pediatric surgery department at St. Anna Hospital in Varna will close its doors on March 1 due to resignations from the medical staff. The doctors have indicated that they plan to continue their work at a private medical facility in Burgas.
North Macedonia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Agneza Popovska, presented an award to Sofia’s N. I. Pirogov Hospital in recognition of its efforts in treating the most seriously injured young people following the tragic disco fire in Kočani in March 2025.
A Bulgarian scientist has developed a drug that halts the growth of cancer and prevents metastases from spreading to other organs.
Bulgaria is currently experiencing a flu season that is spreading more moderately than initially anticipated, according to an analysis by Chief State Health Inspector Assoc. Prof. Angel Kunchev,
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