Corruption Probes Deepen with New Allegations; Economy Shows Mixed Signals
Get European news in your inbox daily
A short daily digest of the whole continent — or just the countries you care about.
Check your email. We've sent a confirmation link — click it to complete your subscription.
New allegations of corruption are emerging, including claims of a prosecutorial cover-up in the E-79 highway project and a Sofia city prosecutor's alleged travel with a controversial figure. A prosecutor involved in the 'Hemus' highway case has claimed removal after mentioning former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's name. Further judicial scrutiny sees the Prosecutor's Office ordered to pay 150,000 BGN in damages for a seized vehicle. Meanwhile, Constitutional Court Judge Desislava Atanasova is reportedly not rushing to sue Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev over a flight taken with Delyan Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms party.
On the economic front, Bulgarian banks have reported record profits for the third time, surpassing 2 billion euros, with DSK and UniCredit transferring over 500 million to foreign entities. Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Pekanov expressed optimism about receiving 95% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds by autumn, indicating progress in economic recovery. However, the Sofia heating company reported a significant loss exceeding 400 million BGN, and the government approved a 33% stake for a Turkish company in Black Sea oil and gas exploration, a move that could impact the country's energy sector.
In political developments, Ivaylo Mirchev, co-leader of Yes, Bulgaria! and a Member of the National Assembly, criticized Prime Minister Rumen Radev regarding a European anti-ballistic coalition. Separately, Daniel Valchev, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Sofia University, announced he will not be running for president in the upcoming elections.