Bulgarian press review, January 15, 2010

Press Review
Sofia, January 15 (BTA)

BULGARIA-EU

The developments involving Bulgaria's candidate for European Commissioner Rumiana Jeleva continue to be one of the most commented news items in the newspapers. "Troud" quotes Prime Minister Boyko Borissov that if Jeleva did something wrong in her application documents and hearing, he will withdraw her candidacy. Borissov is also quoted as saying that many other candidate commissioners did not make a good presentation in Brussels on account of "the tension they were put under". Borissov argued that already before the hearing in the European Parliament Jeleva has been made the target of attacks which tried to confuse and unsettle her. The Prime Minister said also that he will wait until Monday to hear the opinions of the legal experts about whether there is conflict of interest in Jeleva's candidacy and will decide what to do only then. He once again stressed that he had talked with important people in Brussels and that for the time being, the European People's Party firmly supports Jeleva.

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"24 Chassa" highlights the reactions against Jeleva of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and their insistence before European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to replace her. The newspaper says that a common front has been formed of Socialists and Liberals against Jeleva.

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In a comment capped, "Bulgaria Should Snap at Brussels," "24 Chassa" says that it is true that Borissov could have found a more appropriate candidate as it would have been a bit too much for Jeleva to become a member of the European Parliament, Bulgarian Foreign Minister and European Commissioner in just a year. It is also true that Jeleva did not make a good performance at the hearing and started a pathetic dispute with Antonia Purvanova, another Bulgarian MEP. However, despite all shortcomings, Borissov should not give in as the question for Jeleva's approval as European Commissioner is a matter of national sovereignty; she has been selected by the lawfully elected Government of Bulgaria, says the author of the comment.

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"Monitor" quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raikov as saying that information about a planned attack against Jeleva's candidacy had been known back in November 2009. Raikov said that the plot against her is a revenge of the political forces in Bulgaria who lost the democratic race at the July general elections and are now looking for retribution in the European Parliament.

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Bulgarian MEP Dimiter Stoyanov tells "Telegraph" that the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the National Movement for Surge and Stability (NMSS) are revenging for outgoing Bulgarian European Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, whom the two formations had tried to put forward for a second term in the European Commission. The proposal was flatly rejected by Borissov, which, according to Stoyanov, prompted the revenge of BSP and NMSS. The overall effect was anti-Bulgarian, says he, adding that the biggest thing that can "kill" one's image is not whether the person is a professional or not but the fact that his or her own fellow countrymen take part in a campaign against him/her.
"Dnevnik" runs an interview with David Rennie, EU correspondent of "The Economist", who says that Jeleva's hearing was a court of that Bulgaria which Brussels does not like. Rennie says that if Borissov refuses to withdraw her candidacy, it will be difficult for Barroso to say he does not want her. According to Rennie, the aim of the Liberals and the Greens in the European Parliament was to "unclog" the battle between the European People's Party and the socialist, and not to wage an attack against Jeleva.

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"Troud" argues that at least five scenarios are now possible about Jeleva's candidacy. The first is for her to "survive". This could only happen with a political deal between the European People's Party, the biggest in the European Parliament, and the other groups. The second option is for Jeleva to have a different portfolio, which, according to knowledgeable sources is only possible in theory. The third scenario is for her to decide to resign on her own free will. The fourth option is for Borissov to come up with another candidate. The fifth, and most painful, scenario according to "Troud" is for the committees who heard Jeleva to give a negative mark which will be sent to the President of the European Parliament and the floor leaders who will then start "bargaining". Another possible scenario, according to the daily, is for Borissov to withdraw immediately Jeleva's candidacy or to wait until Monday to see if she "passes". If she does not, the Prime Minister will have to think about both a new foreign minister and a new candidate.

THE HOME SCENE

"It is not fair to explain everything with the MRF [Movement for Rights and Freedoms]," former Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov says in an interview to "Troud" daily. He regards claims that the MRF is the worst and most corrupted party as unsubstantiated. Dimitrov says further that assigning such an important role to a party would turn it into a target for attacks, to the detriment of those Muslims and Turks who are not members of the MRF. According to Dimitrov it is inappropriate and short-sighted to flash any kind of veto against Turkey. Filipov claims that an end should be put to anti-Turkish rhetoric, used by most parties to attract votes at the last elections.

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"Sega" says in a headline that citizens' protests "sobered up" the incumbents in their plans for planned revisions of the Electronic Communications Act, which provide for direct access of the Interior Ministry to Bulgarian citizens' Internet and mobile phone communications. The protest rally was held under the slogan "Bulgaria Is Not Big Brother, 2010 Is Not 1984".

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After a public discussion, it emerged that GERB will make new concessions before the second reading debate of the proposed amendments. According to the latest drafts, Internet and mobile phone operators have to retain for one year traffic data and submit such data to the Interior Ministry within two hours after being requested.

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"Troud" frontpages the news that 150 of over 350 hospital across Bulgaria will be closed, quoting Bulgarian Medical Association Head Tsvetan Raichinov who dismisses previous reports that the number of closed hospitals will be 100 only. The reason behind this move are the new requirements imposed by the National Health Insurance Fund on hospitals, under which all medical institutions must provide round-the-clock emergency coverage.
In a comment "Sega" writes that all citizens who do not use their rights will be punished. Under a proposal by National Assembly Deputy Chair and head of the parliamentary Health Care Committee Luchezar Ivanov, all citizens who pay health insurance contributions are obliged to travel to the EU using their European Health Insurance Card which entitles them to free emergency help. The proposal transforms into an obligation a right laid down in the Health Insurance Act, thus creating a "legal absurdity". To pay or not to pay for medical treatment is a matter of choice, the author writes. What is more important is that stupidity, insanity and lobbyism are equally harmful and should remain outside the walls of Parliament, the author says.

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In a headline "Troud" informs that the Sofia Appellate Court has released Krassimir Marinov, aka The Big Marguin, for lack of evidence proving that he has commissioned the murder of radio anchorman Boris "Bobby" Tsankov. Later on Thursday, however, Marinov was detained again, this time for heading a drug ring together with Stefan "Sako" Bonev.

ECONOMY

The contractor for Lot 2 of the Trakia Motorway will go through rigorous checks, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Rosen Plevneliev warns in an interview for "Sega" daily. Plevneliev explains that the requirements listed in the tender documentation are extremely hard to fulfil. The penalties which will be imposed in case of failure to meet them are substantial. According to Plevneliev, that is the reason why only 8 companies have submitted tender bids. All of them know the Bulgarian market well and are in the privileged position to assess risks and to take them, he says.

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Interviewed by "24 Chassa," Chairman of the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Angel Semerdjiev says that he expects electricity prices to increase by up to 5 per cent in July but notes that there will be no sharp markups of gas, heating and water in the winter. Semerdjiev says the Commission is thinking of how to aid poor people for the high electricity prices, whether by cheaper rates or welfare benefits.

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The annual inflation of 0.6 per cent for 2009, the lowest in the past ten years, is headline news in all Friday newspapers. The inflation for December 2009 was 0.5 per cent, month on month, and 0.6 per cent, year on year, the National Statistical Institute reported on Thursday.

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 – Sofia, January 15, 2010

· Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and his Greek counterpart Georgios Papandreou have officially unveiled the fourth border checkpoint between the two countries – Zlatograd-Thermes-Xanthi, FOCUS – Smolyan Radio reports.The event was attended also by Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Foreign Minister Rumyana Zheleva, Smolyan district governor, mayors, MPs and hundreds of citizens form both countries. The Greek prime minister walked nearly 100 meters on foot and his Bulgarian counterpart welcomed him on the border line. The two cut two ribbons – one with the Greek national flag and one with the Bulgarian flag.


· Bulgaria’s EU Commissioner-Designate Rumiana Jeleva has made no legal violation in reporting her financial situation, according to a document issued by the Bulgarian Justice Ministry. The EP has EC President Jose Manuel Barroso to make public his position by the end of the day on Friday as to whether Jeleva was involved in conflict of interests