Bulgarian press review, January 27, 2010

Press Review
Sofia, January 27

THE HOME SCENE

"24 Chassa" quotes GERB Floor Co-leader Iskra Fidossova as saying that "there are no plans for a debate on the Cabinet changes," referring to Wednesday's election by Parliament of Nickolay Mladenov as Foreign Minister and of Anyu Angelov as Defence Minister. "As if anticipating GERB's intention to cut short the procedure, the MRF [Movement for Rights and Freedoms] yesterday urgently took exception to the idea. 'The BSP [Bulgarian Socialist Party] will insist on a debate," said the Deputy Floor Leader of the left-wing parliamentary group Mihail Mikov. Meanwhile, the UDF [Union of Democratic Forces] yesterday lashed out against future deputy prime minister Ilian Mihov. The UDF argues that oligarchy in Bulgaria has three objectives: to bring down the currency board arrangement, to frustrate the adoption of the euro, and to build the Belene N-plant. Mihov backs the first two ideas," "24 Chassa" writes.

* * *

"Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's difficulties with The Blue [Coalition] erupted in connection with his backing of Stanishev's deputy prime minister Meglena Plougchieva for a senior position at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development," political scientist Evgenii Dainov writes in a comment in "Troud." "In reality, it is all about undercurrents of self-identification of both Borissov and The Blue. The PM has opted for a strategy of keeping up his image as a national leader by demonstrating a statesmanlike suprapartisan behaviour rather than through political manoeuvring. The Blue Coalition, too, is seeking a new image and a clearer political role. Both Borissov and The Blue, however, find themselves at a disadvantage due to the lack of sustained dialogue, as well as exaggerating various happenings."

* * *

"Douma" quotes BSP leader Sergei Stanishev as saying on Tuesday that "the Cabinet changes contemplated by Boyko Borissov are inadequate and do not live up to public expectations. To live up to these expectations, the PM must part with at least three ministers: Finance Minister Simeon Djankov, Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev, and Environment Minister Nona Karadjova." The BSP will not back the Cabinet changes when they are put to the vote in Parliament on Wednesday.

* * *

"Troud" reports that UDF leader Martin Dimitrov told journalists on Tuesday that his party will compile a list of BSP and MRF bureaucrats who must be dismissed and will give the list to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. The Blue attacked GERB for keeping for months now some notoriously incompetent representatives of the BSP and the MRF in senior positions, such as Energy Efficiency Agency chief Tasko Ermenkov. "If people believed that the BSP and MRF cadres in the administration were doing a good job, they would have voted for them," Dimitrov said, reasoning his demand for a purge.

* * *

"24 Chassa" frontpages the news that MRF leader Ahmed Dogan Tuesday assumed a new self-imposed responsibility: he will be in charge of "economic priorities, investment policy and new technology" in the Movement's Central Operative Bureau. "For the first time, Dogan took part personally and on an equal footing with the rest in the allocation of responsibilities, which are called 'panels' in the MRF. He chose his area of responsibility by himself. "Our ambition is that it will outline governance priorities with a view to seeking a national vision for the country's development," MRF Deputy Chairman Hristo Bisserov explained.

* * *

For the time being, GERB is adamant in its demand that the services and the Interior Ministry be able to require telephone and Internet traffic data not only in the case of serious offences (punishable by over five years' imprisonment), it emerges from modifications introduced by the ruling party before the second reading of the amendments to the Electronic Communications Act, "Troud" reports. "GERB insists on lifting the confidentiality of correspondence for lesser offences as well. The Right and the MRF, however, continue to argue that including other offences in addition to the serious ones is unconstitutional."

* * *

Under the heading "170 Hospitals Consigned to History," "Sega" writes that half of the hospitals in Bulgaria will probably cease to exist before the end of this year. Twenty-one medical-treatment facilities did not qualify for a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 2010 and have no alternative source of financing. Another 158 concluded contracts for an average 48 per cent fewer clinical pathways, which calls their survival into question. One hundred and ninety hospitals are not threatened with extinction. The figures were reported by the NHIF now that contracting for 2010 is almost complete.

* * *

"Monitor" reports that by this summer at the latest, there will be a three-pillar health insurance model. National Assembly Health Committee Chairman Luchezar Ivanov said on Tuesday that during its summer session, the National Assembly will adopt the requisite revisions of the law to regulate the establishment of supplementary compulsory health insurance companies. At present health care is underfunded by nearly 2,500-3,000 million leva, the MP argued.

ECONOMY

"If there are companies which have planned a 10 per cent corruption tax and admit this, let them be so kind as to reduce the amount of their receivable," former finance minister Milen Velchev says in a "Troud" interview, commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov that if the companies reduce the amounts due to them by the State by 10 per cent, they will get their money immediately. "But reducing them all to a common denominator and forcing them to operate at a loss is not only unfair, it is dishonest."

* * *

"The prices of electricity will vary with service quality," "Sega" reports. This is envisaged in a revision of the Ordinance on Pricing which will be approved by the State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC). SEWRC Chairman Angel Semerdjiev said he expects electricity prices to rise by up to 5 per cent as from July 1.

* * *

"Standart News" writes that bad loans continued to increase in December 2009, reaching a proportion of 10.60 per cent. For the frist time in Bulgaria, overdue housing loans have also surpassed the 10 per cent barrier. Non-performing loans have increased for all types of products. Corporate debts are overdue in 9.98 per cent of the cases, and consumer credit defaults stand at 12.25 per cent.

FOREIGN POLICY

"A war is going on Afghanistan - for you and for us," the newly appointed US Ambassador in Sofia James Warlick says in a "Troud" interview. "Our partnership is based on jointly addressing matters which are important for both countries. International peace and security are precisely such matters. They are as important for Bulgarians as they are for Americans. The threats we are facing in today's world are not just against the US, they are against everybody. That is why we are working together in places like Afghanistan. I expect this cooperation to be promoted during my ambassadorship here," Warlick adds.

* * *

"Borissov brings three things in his suitcase from Berlin," "24 Chassa" comments, referring to the PM's visit to Germany. "The confidence and support demonstrated on the part of Angela Merkel calls for a response on the part of Bulgaria. Germany appreciated what the new Government has done so far. Both Berlin and Europe, however, want to see more. Whatever assistance Borissov asked for, he was assured that what is possible will be done. For his part, he must do even the impossible on his tasks: getting Bulgaria back to the normal European family."

* * *

"Borissov Found His Match in Merkel," "Sega" comments. "If anybody has doubted that Borissov and GERB are to a certain extent a project of Merkel, there is no more room for hesitation. 'I can assure you that the new Bulgaria Government will work in such a way that you will not be ashamed of having backed us,' Borissov said, as if the German Chancellor had appointed him to the job. It emerged that the PM went to Germany together with half of his Cabinet not to hold any negotiations but to submit a summing-up. Borissov took along his closest aides to parade the people with whom he does the German bidding. What actually took place in Berlin was not negotiatons between two states but a review of the situation in Bulgaria. Merkel's promise to visit on October 12 is not a protocol courtesy but a deadline by which she expects to see something more significant."


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 27, 2010

· With 127 votes in favour, Bulgaria's Parliament approved on January 27 2010 the appointment of Nikolai Mladenov as the country's new Foreign Minister. Mladenov moves to the new post after having been Defence Minister. Parliament also approved the promotion of Mladenov's deputy at the Defence Ministry, Anyu Angelov, to Defence Minister.

· The roads in Greece are blocked in more than 25 places and there is a changeable schedule of the blockades. The losses Bulgaria has suffered up to now are estimated at over EUR 40 million. The associations of tax and customs officials have announced they are ready to stage a strike in February