Mixed Reactions to Bulgaria's European Commission Portfolio: From Praise to Concern
Ekaterina Zaharieva, nominated by Ursula von der Leyen as European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation
Bulgarian President, Rosen Plevneliev, is very close to vetoing the controversial actualization of State budget 2013, according to undisclosed sources, close to his office.
The sources have told the Bulgarian Trud (Labor) daily that the President's economy advisors were already writing statements on the necessity to revise the budget prepared by Simeon Djankov, Finance Minister in the previous Cabinet of the center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB.
The current, Socialist-endorsed Cabinet of former Finance Minister and now Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski, and Finance Minister, Petar Chobanov, have included in the update plans to take a new loan in the amount of BGN 1 B to be used as a buffer for the fiscal reserve in 2014, when Bulgaria must make new payments on its foreign debt. Other funds will be slated for the overdue money for the business and for social measures.
GERB and the recently-established right-leaning Reformist Block firmly oppose the revision.
On Monday, Radan Kanev, leader of Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, DSB, which is part of the block, called for a public debate on the issue.
The Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finances is examining the draft budget update at second reading Tuesday, after it was passed in plenary hall at first reading last Thursday.
The motion was backed by 115 MPs, with 88 against and 10 abstentions.
Last Wednesday, Bulgarian lawmakers were forced to postpone the first reading vote the draft budget 2013 update in the aftermath of clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters.
The latter sat on the pavement and erected barricades near the Parliament late Tuesday into Wednesday to prevent lawmakers and ministers discussing in 3 committees the budget update from leaving the building. Media reporters inside also ended up being under siege.
Some 18 people, protesters and riot police, were injured, but no one was seriously harmed.
This prompted the Speaker of the Parliament, Mihail Mikov, to call on colleagues to not show up for work on Wednesday for safety reasons.
It is expected that the final vote on the revision will be held by the end of the week. After that, the amendments must be published in the State Gazette within a 15-day deadline. This is also the deadline for the President to issue a decree approving this publishing or to veto them.
Tuesday marks day 47 in Bulgaria of protests against the Cabinet Oresharski.
After the clashes, the rallies have been once again peaceful.
They were triggered by the appointment of a murky politician and media mogul to lead the State Agency for National Security (DANS).
The protesters were not appeased by the subsequent cancellation of the decision and went on to demand the resignation of the Socialist-led cabinet over ties with oligarchs.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
When newbies are trying to get rolling in Forex sales, they have to be aware that each link in the trading chain is crucial for success.
The realm of online casinos is always changing, and one big new idea is the use of blockchain tech and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).
Approximately 10% of individuals who previously qualified for home loans will no longer be eligible under new regulations set by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB)
Recent changes to the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems regarding the adoption of the euro have raised concerns among legal experts about potential contradictions with the already enacted Law on the Introduction of the Euro
In 2023, approximately 2,400 Bulgarians earned monthly incomes exceeding 50,000 leva (around 25,000 euros)
By the end of July 2024, Bulgarian banks reported a profit of 2.1 billion leva, marking an increase of 115 million leva compared to the same period in 2023
Bulgaria Ranks Second in the Balkans at Paris 2024 Olympics, 26th Overall
Bulgaria Leads Europe in Heat-Related Deaths in Record-Breaking 2023