Bulgarian press review, November 12, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, November 12 (BTA)

THE HOME SCENE

"Troud" reports on Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's evolving response to calls for impeachment of President Georgi Purvanov. While in Brussels on Tuesday evening Borissov threatened to back the motion for Purvanov's impeachment. However, back in Sofia on Wednesday morning, Borissov stepped back and said that it was not time yet to bring down the President. Earlier, Purvanov had refused to recall Bulgaria's ambassadors to the US and Turkey over election irregularities on the proposal of the government. Subsequently, the Ataka party and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria threatened to move for Purvanov's impeachment. The parties forming the parliamentary majority, GERB, the Blue Coalition, the Order, Lawfulness, Justice party (OLJ) and Ataka, had begun consultations to remove Purvanov from office, said Wednesday parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee Chair Iskra Fidossova (GERB). In a statement read out in Parliament on Wednesday, OLJ leader Yane Yanev called for impeachment of the entire state and political system of the last 20 years, which has been put in place under a communist scenario. Ataka leader Volen Siderov still thinks that Purvanov should resign over the matter with the ambassadors' recall.

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"Standart News" holds a panel of social scientists on the topic. According to Kolyo Kolev of the Mediana agency, there is no way Purvanov will kiss Borissov's hand. The motion for impeachment would look scary, if taken seriously, but the whole thing is more of a display and clowning. It will be, however, a different matter, if this clowning turns into a loosely written play and will discredit the government. Mira Radeva of MBMD says that the time is wrong for playing with public attitudes. The President is above any parties and the attack on him may be seen as an attack on democratic freedoms.

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In a commentary for "Troud", former foreign minister Solomon Passy (2001-2005) says that the recall of an ambassador is like a nuclear bomb in diplomacy. Passy notes that the US and Turkey are among Bulgaria's key partners and since 2004 have been among Bulgaria's allies. Traditionally, these are two destinations where the best ambassadors. This is how things were under the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, under the communist regime, despite all its flaws, and in the past 20 years. Ambassadors are recalled only as a last resort. According to Passy, the raging debate has missed on one principal argument: how would a recall affect Bulgaria's relations with the US and Turkey. In this respect, Passy proposes a revision to the Constitution under which ambassadors will be appointed by the government instead by the president.

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A "Sega" interview with Justice Minister Margarita Popova caps "Scandal over Trade in Influence Won't Purge Judicial System." Of changes to the penal code, Popova says that provisions branded as "disciplining" were dropped, which in effect prevented the state from punishing every single crime. Popova adds that cases drag on forever because of investigating officers' failure to collect enough evidence. No country gives up its right to collect evidence and to punish over the sloppy work of an investigating body, says Popova.

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In an interview for "Pari", parliamentary Health Committee Chair Luchezar Ivanov says that reforms have to be carried out despite the economic crisis. In his words, actual reforms in the health care system will be launched in 2010 with the accreditation of health establishments. At this first stage the question is how to transform hospitals for active treatment into facilities for long-term care. The other thing is the introduction of the second and third pillar of health insurance: compulsory complementary health insurance and voluntary health insurance. According to Ivanov, these reforms will decide the future of the health care system.

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In an interview for "Troud", Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov says that he is determined to carry out reforms in the area of culture. For the first time Rashidov presents an analysis of the activities of the ten Bulgarian cultural centres abroad under the ministry. Although the centres cost millions of euro to run, they report minimal activities. Rashidov says that with the money for the centres' upkeep he could book Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera and the Grand Palais multiple times to showcase Bulgarian opera singers and artists. The Culture Minister adds that he is full of ideas. He goes back to the time when he first moved from the country to Sofia and vowed that he would be winner.

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In a "24 Chassa" interview, former MP General Atanas Atanassov [Democrats for Strong Bulgaria] and former head of the National Investigative Service says that MPs of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms should be brought to justice. Atanassov states that if the scandal with the Road Fund is properly investigated, former ministers of the Stanishev cabinet Plamen Oresharski, Assen Gagaouzov and Petar Moutafchiev should be tried. Atanassov's list goes on include former Environment Minister Djevdet Chakurov, former Agriculture Minister Valeri Tsvetanov and his predecessor Nihat Kabil. Atanassov also says that the National Intelligence Service and the Military Information Service are run by officers all trained at KGB schools, who have been granted access to classified information in a misjudged move.

ECONOMY

Financier Emil Hursev says that the cabinet should be the conductor of the orchestra of banks. In a "Klassa" interview, Hursev admits that Finance Minister Simeon Djankov is right to forecast a 3 per cent fall of interest rates. Hursev says that although rates may fall, it is still not clear when and he is doubtful that this will take place soon. Hursev says that the cabinet is conducting an orchestra, where musicians are competing against each other and they will take long to decide to decrease rates, if the decision is left with them.

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"Treasury Owes 400 Million Leva for Untaken Leave," writes "Troud". Some 300-400 million leva [roughly 150-200 million euro] have to be paid to ministerial officials for untaken holiday leave, said Wednesday Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov. Second-level budget spending units [agencies and services under the ministries] are being audited too for how much they owe for untaken holiday entitlements. Djankov reported on the budget performance by the end of September. According to his report, the budget was 552 million leva in the red. However, the budget in October was balanced.

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In a front-page report "Sega" writes that 85,000 people lost their jobs in nine months. Some 85,306 jobs were axed in the private sector between January and September. In September alone, 36,513 people were laid off. Despite promises for streamlining and cuts in the administration, public officials increased by 109, reported the National Statistical Institute. Education is only sector which is hiring new people. Nationwide, Sofia is the only region where average monthly wages exceed 700 leva [350 euro].


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Interviewed for "Novinar", parliamentary Budget committee Chair Menda Stoyanova confirms that the administration will be down to its normal size.

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In a "Troud" interview, Labour Minister Totyu Mladenov promises that benefits will not be touched. Mladenov confirms that student mothers whose children are of up to one year in age will receive a lump sum of 2,880 leva. The news that these benefits will be removed is due to a technical error in the 2010 draft budget which will be corrected, said Mladenov. One-time benefits for twins of up to one year of age to the amount of 1,200 leva for each child will be kept too.

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Under the headline "Where Did Robin Hood Go?", "Sega writes that the cabinet has decided to keep the benefit entitlements for twins and student mothers. The newspaper says that this move shows the new government as inconsistent and casts doubt over its election promises.

BULGARIA - EU

"Troud" reports that the government has nominated Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva for EU commissioner. Speaking to reporters, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that Enlargement will be the best portfolio for Jeleva and that Jeleva's nomination had been discussed informally with EC President Jose Barroso.

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 – November 12, 2009

· President Georgi Purvanov said on Thursday that "the secret coalition has come into the light" in connection with the current debate on his possible impeachment. "I intended not to make any statements, but the game has become too rough lately - and I am referring not only to the sharp, unacceptable tone of speaking," he told journalists.
The idea to impeach the President emerged when Purvanov dismissed a Government proposal to remove from office the Bulgarian ambassadors to Turkey and the US over irregularities committed during the latest parliamentary elections. Purvanov demanded more information to support a possible decision to remove the ambassadors.
In his statement, Purvanov said that the attack against him is absurd in legal and political terms.
Reacting to accusations that he has not reported to Parliament on his performance, Purvanov recalled that he addressed Parliament annually. "Parliament is the work place of the MPs, not the President," he said.
"What has happened is a good lesson in constitutional law for the incumbents," he said. He declined to predict whether a possible impeachment motion in Parliament will be supported by enough votes to pass.
"This debate will become more and more political, a debate about this country's governance," he said. According to him, the incumbents were irritated by his disagreement with them and by his ambition to act as a corrective force.