Bulgarian Press Review November 4, 2009

Press Review
Sofia, November 4 (BTA)

HOME SCENE

Prosecutor General Boris Velchev submitted to Parliament Tuesday the demand of Sofia City Prosecution that the immunity of former Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev as MP be lifted, "Troud" writes. Velchev received a proposal by Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov that Stanishev be stripped of his immunity. The motives behind the proposal involved loss of documents containing state secret and incautious causing of leakage of classified information. "I have never hesitated whether to demand lifting of immunity, when this is in the interest of justice," Velchev is quoted as saying. On his part, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that he does not interfere into the affairs of the judiciary. Also on Tuesday Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that two Interior Ministry reports, received personally by Stanishev, are missing. The materials that have disappeared concern smuggling, abuses in the customs and transactions with Iraq. "I am interested that the truth be revealed," Stanishev said adding he voluntarily gives up his immunity in connection with the investigation. The prosecution authority and the judicial system are submitted to unprecedented pressure on the part of the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister, Stanishev commented.

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Every prime minister should know how to keep a secret, Tsveta Markova, Chairperson of the State Commission on Security of Information, says in an interview granted for "Troud". Once the Commission receives information from the Council of Ministers and the State Agency for National Security (SANS), it will make an analysis so as to establish the reasons having led to that situation, says she. "Stanishev has either received the report personally or through an employee. Such a procedure is applicable to the return of documents as well. The law requires from everyone handling classified information to sign a declaration that he is familiar with the rules for its usage," Markova also says.

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Assessments of the Cabinet's first 100 days in office came from all directions on Tuesday, the "Troud" paper says. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) was most critical as expected. According to the Socialists, these have been 100 days of lies. They blame the incumbents for alleged refusal to update the national budget and to reduce the tax burden by five per cent. The 2010 draft budget is a budget of impoverishment, unemployment and social insecurity, BSP says. On their part, Democrats for Strong Bulgaria did not spare praise for the Cabinet, which has reportedly managed to keep and even enlist higher confidence on the part of the people. However, according to this party, at the same time the incumbents have failed so far to show in depth the damage caused by the ruling of the three-party coalition (BSP - National Movement for Surge and Stability - Movement for Rights and Freedoms, MRF). "The most important thing about these 100 days is that Bulgaria is not governed by the Red oligarchy on the mandate of a Turkish party," Ataka leader Volen Siderov is quoted as saying.

According to a survey of the Alfa Research polling agency, the mark, which the Cabinet deserves for its hitherto performance is Good 4.13. A commentary in "Dnevnik" says that the overall credit of confidence in the Cabinet remains high but signs of growing criticism have been observed. There are high expectations about actions while what has been done so far is assessed by the society as inadequate and rather contradictory. The followers of the parties, which support the Cabinet, become more reserved.

According to a commentary in the "Sega" paper, GERB is settling into the same virtual world, inhabited by the previous governments. Should the SANS scandals or how often Stanishev and MRF leader Ahmed Dogan attend parliament sittings be the top state concern," the author asks. Obviously, such scandals are aimed to divert the attention. However, if GERB does not want that its rating remains solely institutional, it should turn to real life, the author of the commentary states.

"24 Chassa" publishes the results of an opinion poll conducted by the MBMD agency in late October and early November. A total of 63.6 per cent of the interviewed back Prime Minister Borissov. "24 Chassa" draws a comparison with the support for previous prime ministers as at the 100 day of the tenure of their governments: Stanishev was supported by 34 per cent, Ivan Kostov by 58 per cent and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha by 51 per cent.

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"Withdraw from the Barricade, if It Is Not Too Late," reads a commentary in "Troud". Rather than identifying the strategic goals for the next 20 years, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has been preoccupied with current issues. In the last days of its tenure the previous cabinet mapped out a strategy for a post-election war. Borissov accepted to wage this war thinking that he would win easily, the author writes. According to him, Prime Minister Borissov got involved into an exhausting PR campaign employing the full resources of power. Thus he is diverted from the main front line - the management of the crisis, the author says.

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In an interview for "Standart News" Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev says that at least six million leva will be additionally allocated for antiviral medications with a view to the epidemic declared in several regions. Additional six million are expected to be spent on vaccines. All doctors have been instructed regarding the treatment of the flue. The Minister recommends to those who are unwell to visit a doctor rather than resort to self-treatment.

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"Sega" reports about draft amendments to the Criminal Code publicized by the Justice Ministry on Tuesday. Under the draft amendments employees of private companies would be held liable for abuse of office. Another proposed amendment envisages lifetime imprisonment for kidnapping. The Ministry also suggests prison sentence for entering lower prices in documents on the sale of corporeal immovables or cars.

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"24 Chassa" writes that two policemen and a Defence Ministry employee worked for a car theft ring. While patrolling the streets, the policemen would chose target cars that would then be returned in exchange of a ransom or re-sold. They would receive 800 leva for each car sold. The paper quotes Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov as saying that the operation has been perfectly organized.

ECONOMY

According to "Standart News", Prime Minister Borissov urged the banks to reduce interests on credits. He allegedly did this at informal meetings as the Government may not interfere into the banks' affairs. Tuesday the Cabinet held what was the fourth annual meeting with business representatives. Bulgarian National Bank chief Ivan Iskrov predicted that the crisis in this country would reach its climax in the last months of the year.

BULGARIA - EU

Brussels predicts that Bulgaria would be in recession for another year, "24 Chassa" writes. Bulgaria is among the eight EU Member States, the economies of which will continue to be in recession during the following year as well, the paper says referring to the European Commission. According to the Commission, the prolonging of the tough period would distance the country from the rest of the member states. Bulgaria's future would largely depend on the degree of recovery of the world economies and the country's ability to restore the interest of foreign investors and to absorb EU funds. Catching up with the other EU countries and preserving the macroeconomic stability are outlined as main challenges for the next 24 months.


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 4, 2009

• Bulgaria's Health Ministry has reported the fifth swine flu death in the country. In the southwestern town of Petrich a man 27 years of age stayed sick at home for 10 days and did not went to see a doctor, Healthcare Minister Dr. Bozhidar Nanev announced at a press conference today. More than 130 people per every 10,000 have tested positive for swine flu in Bulgaria, the rate necessary for declaring a nation-wide epidemic emergency being 200 per 10,000.

• Two persons have been arrested for Wednesday morning’s incident in which a young man was forced to get into a car in downtown Sofia, Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov stated. It took the police five hours to identify the people involved in the incident he says and added that the probable reason is an unpaid debt.