GUESS WHO?
Dimiter Tadarakov, head of State Agriculture Fund, responsible for administrating EU subsidies for Bulgarian farmers, alleged to reporters on October 23 that an MP from the ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) had threatened him. “He told me that he would destroy me, but I want to make it clear that this did not mean that I would be physically harmed,” Tadarakov said. The reason was that Tadarakov was planning to fire several of his employees on corruption charges and the MP in question was related to one of them. “I cannot tell you the name of the MP, but can tell you that he is from BSP and was a former prosecutor and has a file from the former communist Secret Services as it was revealed by the authorities.” This description fits MP Georgi Yourukov, who did not deny that he had had a phone conversation with Tadarakov. Yourukov denied having threatening him but confirmed he had a relative working under Tadarakov.

SUPREME COURT OF CASSATION
Lazar Gruev is the new chairperson of the Supreme Court of Cassation, members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decided on October 23. Gruev will replace Ivan Grigorov, whose seven-year term of office has ended. Gruev got the support of 17 SJC members out of 25. This was enough for him to win the post. Gruev was strongly supported for the post by Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev. Both Velchev and Gruev had worked together as legal advisers to President Georgi Purvanov.

BG GREEN CARD
A system similar to the US Green Card system could solve Bulgaria’s problem of a lack of qualified labour, Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov told reporters on October 23 in Kuystendil. According to Dimitrov, Foreign Ministry officials were developing a system that will apply only to people of Bulgarian origin born and living outside the country. People in this category who want a Bulgarian passport should have a minimum three years’ work experience in Bulgaria. Dimitov’s words were in line with those of other government officials who see in Bulgarian expatriates, mainly those living in Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Russia, the answer to Bulgaria’s lack of qualified labour.

TIME CHANGE
At 4am on October 28, Bulgaria will move its clocks one hour back. Bulgaria, like the rest of Europe and North America, will go from Daylight Saving Time (DST-summer time) to winter time (standard time).

WINTER CONDITIONS
On November 1, Traffic Police officers will launch their annual Operation Light. With winter nearing, all motorists are required by law to drive with their lights on through the entire day. Police will check the condition of tyres as well. The first week after November 1, motorist will be only advised and warned but not fined. Motorists with old tyres will be fined 50 leva and six points will be removed from their driving licences. Driving with lights that are off or not working will mean a fine of 20 leva.