Two Drunk Drivers, One Car: Bizarre Incident Unfolds in Nessebar
In Nessebar, a peculiar case involving drunk driving unfolded during the early hours of the morning
Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, strongly criticized protests of owners of illegal buildings, slated for demolition in the coastal, historic town of Nessebar.
Borisov spoke Tuesday, during the fifth annual business-government meeting in Bulgaria, which is organized by Confederation of Employers and Industrialists and the Capital weekly newspaper.
The PM's words came as response to a statement of Bulgarian EU Commissioner, Kristalina Georgieva, also among the forum's participants, saying Sweden would be an interesting example to follow in times of economic crisis.
"This is a country where the crisis would be expected to become a real disaster over high taxes and their social model, but after a recession, Sweden now aims at a 4.5% growth for 2011," Georgieva said, to which Borisov replied it would be hard to do as in Sweden since Bulgaria is the only country where Andreshko (famous literary character, synonym of petty dodger) is a national hero.
"When we pass by illegal buildings, we all complain about the inactivity of the State. And when the State starts reinforcing the law, we all feel sorry for those affected. Those who have traveled to Croatia, have you seen anything of the sort? Croatia has EUR 8.5 B in revenues from tourism because tourists want to visit authentic sites, not a village chicken house," the PM pointed out.
He further voiced outrage the attempt of the State to reinforce the law is making headlines for days now, when in a law-observing democracy such thing would never make the news.
"I, too, very much like the area around the Sheraton hotel in downtown Sofia. I have the power today so why not build a chicken house and then say: my kids live here; you can't destroy it. This is simply ridiculous, cynical and pathetic. This is the difference between Bulgaria and other countries," Borisov stressed.
Nessebar, whose Old Town is on UNESCO's world cultural heritage sites list, has been blocked since Sunday evening by owners of houses and shops that were scheduled to be demolished Monday by the State National Construction Control (DNSK).
Clashes and four arrests occurred Monday when police tried to break the human fence. The day ended with only two pavilions being taken down.
The new DNSK Head, Milka Gecheva, says owners have received notices they must remove the illegal construction (entire houses or additional levels) by the end of August, but never complied, hoping the State would not undertake further action.
According to Gecheva, more protests are to be expected since other buildings in Nessebar are slated to be destroyed.
the last quarter of 2024, the proportion of properties purchased with mortgage loans in Bulgaria grew to 27%, or roughly every third property
The real estate market in Bulgaria experienced notable changes in 2024, with significant price increases and a rise in transaction volumes
Financial expert Kamen Kolchev has advised against investing in real estate, warning that property prices in Bulgaria could drop by up to 20% upon the country’s entry into the eurozone
Foreigners who invested in property in Bulgaria are now facing legal battles after discovering that their homes were sold without their knowledge
In recent months, sales of residential properties in Bulgaria’s major cities have risen sharply
Despite the measures imposed by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), housing lending in Bulgaria continues to rise rapidly
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability