Bulgarian Press Review, July 29, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, July 29 (BTA)

THE HOME SCENE

Tuesday dailies lead on Parliament's approval of the structure and the lineup of the government, proposed by GERB leader Boiko Borissov and Borissov's election as prime minister. The new government got the support of Borissov's GERB, ultra-nationalist Ataka and the centre-right Blue Coalition and Order, Lawfulness, Justice (OLJ). Coalition for Bulgaria (CfB) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) voted against. Meglena Plougchieva [CfB] was the only MP who abstained from voting. "162 MPs Vote In New Cabinet," cap "Klassa" and "Monitor".

***

"Borissov Announces Cabinet of European Development”, writes "Dnevnik". The programme declaration of the cabinet's priorities, read by Borissov, highlighted winning back of the trust of Bulgarian citizens and Bulgaria's EU partners in the country's government, the daily says. It included seven key points, topped by promises to increase the incomes of Bulgarians, ensure a growth and modernization of the economy and cut back on spending, except on education. On taking over the new ministers promised to launch a new IT system which will reduce tax crimes, to review major energy projects, to introduce new rules for the construction of motorways and to make farming the drive engine of the economy.

***

"24 Chassa" and "Telegraph" write that Prime Minister-elect Borissov pledged that there would be no ethnic and political purges at the ceremony for handing over power at the Council of Ministers. "Sega" headlines that the new prime minister has given up on the idea of a political sweep out. According to "Pari", Borissov' benevolence towards the opposition has disappointed his supporters, as it had emerged from Internet forums.

***

"Douma" writes that Boiko Borissov has become Bulgaria's 50th prime minister. "24 Chassa" frontpages a story about Parliament's Chief of Security Ivan Georgiev throwing water down Borissov's way on his first day as prime minister. The traditional luck-wishing ritual had been his excuse for not allowing Borissov into Parliament eight years ago for the inaugural session of the 39th National Assembly. At the time Borissov was serving as bodyguard to former prime minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Borissov could not attend the oath-taking ceremony because he had been left without a pass with all the commotion.

***

In an interview for "24 Chassa", GERB Deputy Floor Leader Krassimir Velchev hopes that during its four-year term the Borissov cabinet will be a cabinet of the majority, backed not only by GERB and at the same time a government of the minority in terms of responsibility. "I can assure you that if we succeed, and we are bound to succeed, everybody will say that this is a government of the majority. And wherever we fail, we will be a government of the minority and will take full responsibility," Velchev adds.
***

"Ataka" headlines "Volen Siderov: Let's Be Statesmen." The newspaper runs a photo of Borissov and Ataka leader Siderov raising a toast to Bulgaria's success.

***

"Despite the current state of affairs, there will be a Grand National Assembly, as Bulgaria is the only member of the EU bloc, whose Constitution is post-totalitarian and pro-communist," says OLJ leader Yane Yanev for "24 Chassa".

***

A swap of three buildings in Sofia owned by the National Revenue Agency for the construction of a new one on the site of the Rodina publishing company has fallen through, said outgoing
Finance Minster Plamen Oresharski on his term's closing day, as quoted by "24 Chassa". According to him, in the course of talks between the government and the privately-owned publishing company, which is controlled by controversial businesswoman Irena Krusteva, the company backed out of the swap.

***

"Two weeks ago we sent a letter to Oresharski and the Prime Minister, saying that the deal had been delayed for too long and that the drastic change in construction climate as an effect of the crisis has made our foreign partners pull out of the investment initiative," the company leadership said, recalling that negotiations started in May 2008.


HOME AFFAIRS AND THE JUDICIARY

"SANS [State Agency for National Security] Should Be Invisible," caps an interview with Prime Minister Boiko Borissov in "Standart News". He says that he expects a sweep against street crime within six months.

***

All dailies report that the Commission for Establishing Property Acquired from Criminal Activity has won a case against mobster Dimiter Zhelyazkov at first instance. Assets worth 2,357,883 have been seized.

***

A junior officer of the Traffic Police from Petrich, who has been working for years in the Southwestern ski resort of Bansko, has been questioned in connection to a bribery scheme for exam-taking and admission at the Sofia-based University for National and World Economy. University professor Petkan Iliev is chief suspect in the case, "24 Chassa" writes. It is alleged that through Iliev's mediation a student from Blagoevgrad, Southwestern Bulgaria, who wanted to enrol at the university and who later tipped the police, had been asked to pay 4,000 leva (roughly 2,000 euro). University Rector Borislav Borissov said that at least 50 people are reviewing examination marks in connection with the scheme.
***

In an interview for "Troud", Anelia Mingova of the Supreme Judicial Council says that Brussels expect politicians to support the judiciary. According to her, Margarita Popova's appointment as justice minister is an excellent choice, as she knows the system inside out and she has headed the unit for battling EU funds embezzlement. The momentum she has gained may well carry on into her new office.

***

In an article for "Troud", capped "20 Years of Reforms and Scandals in the Interior Ministry", General Todor Boyadjiev (Ret) recommends the depoliticization of the Interior Ministry, tight control on the part of the state, a new model for personnel recruitment, opportunities for promotion and limited term of office of the ministry leadership to reduce outside influence.


ECONOMY

In an interview for "Dnevnik", Finance Minister Simeon Djankov says that 300 million leva will be saved through cuts in the size of administration staff. According to him, the main core in charge of EU funds management will be within the Council of Ministers. Half of state agencies might be taken over by respective ministries and external audits will be set to review state-owned energy companies.

***

"Standart News" writes that the Sofia heating utility will be up for sale. The newspaper quotes Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov as saying that the utility should be privately owned.

***

Half the country's bridges should be repaired over the short and medium term and some bridges need urgent repairs as they pose a risk to passing vehicles, writes "Troud". The reason is that the asphalt paving gets cracked and collapses. Bridges less than 20 metres in length in bigger cities are in worst condition.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Borissov cabinet is the first one which steps in office in the conditions of a EU membership. It can formulate and defend more freely national interests than all previous governments, which had been burdened by pre-accession talks, says former foreign minister Solomon Passy interviewed by "Troud".

***

"Bratstvo", the longest-running Bulgarian newspaper in the Western Outlands in Serbia is facing bankruptcy, according to "Pari".


Links to some Bulgarian info websites in English:

• http://www.bta.bg/site/en/indexe.shtml
• http://www.novinite.com/index.php
• http://www.focus-fen.net/


Most discussed topics of the day – July 29, 2009

• The new Bulgarian government decided during its first weekly sitting today that it’s not going to modify the state budget for the time being. Bulgaria's new Finance Minister and Deputy PM Simeon Djankov explained that the new government is going to seek other ways to fill the BGN 2,5 Billion gap, that is emerging in the state budget. 50% of this sum is expected to come from cutting the existing state expenditures, and the government is hoping to come up with the rest by finding additional sources of state revenue. Djankov also said the Bulgarian economy had already shrunk by 6,3%, which made it 11% smaller than what had been envisaged in the 2009 State Budget Act.

• The former Bulgarian deputy Disaster Management Minister Delyan Peevski, who has had one of the most scandalous and corruption-tainted careers in the recent history of the country, will not be member of the parliamentary body for corruption combat, parliament decided. His nomination was turned down with 156 against 60 votes.

• Minko Gerdzhikov, Sofia deputy mayor in charge of financial affairs, was elected acting mayor of the capital by the city council today.
Sofia's outgoing Mayor, Boyko Borisov, came into office as the next Prime Minister of Bulgaria earlier this week. Under local legislation the two positions are not compatible and Borisov term as mayor was automatically discontinued after swearing in as prime minister.