These are some of the top stories in Bulgarian newspapers on October 7 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- A scandal broke on October 6 over Petar Drashkov, brother of deputy head of State Agency for National Security Ivan Drashkov, who is accused of forging a mayor’s signature on a contract for the sale of a plot of land. Trud and Novinar dailies reported the story, which involves Sida-S EOOD company owned by Petar Drashkov. City hall accused Sida-S EOOD of forging the signature of Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov on a contract for the sale of an attractive plot in the Strelbishte area. Petar Drashkov denied the accusations.

- A Bulgarian politician’s real estate holdings are being investigated by the National Revenue Agency, 24 Chassa daily reports. The news comes two days after similar probe was launched into the properties of Plamen Yuroukov, leader of the right-wing party in opposition the Union of Democratic Forces. Standard reports that the UDF leader will also be investigated for money laundering. He has denied all accusations.

Economy

- The growth of Bulgarian economy will slow down to almost half this year's figure, according to forecasts of the Finance Ministry in its macroeconomic framework of the draft budget for 2009. The reasons were the high prices of natural gas and the state-regulated prices in some sectors of the economy, Dnevnik daily reports. All this would lead to an inflation rate in 2009 between 3.5 per cent and five per cent and a gross domestic product growth that could be as low as three per cent.

-  Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management Meglena Plougchieva gave a progress report on October 6 on Bulgaria’s implementation of operational programmes, Sega daily reports. The paper said: “Plougchieva strengthens control over the State Road Infrastructure Agency and EU funds allocated by Agriculture Ministry”.  

- The world financial crisis will hit Bulgarian construction companies hard, and many of them will probably go bankrupt, says Ataka daily, quoting Bozhidar Danev, the head of Bulgarian Industrial Association.

Social

- The right of universities to own real estate will be protected by the state, so long as it does not impinge on the rights of individuals who own some university land, seized under communism and restituted after its fall, Duma daily says. These are the words of Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev in an address to deans of Bulgarian universities. Stanishev also promised deans 25 million leva from the budget surplus for capital expenditure.

- Amendments to the Traffic Act will mean that people charged with drunk driving could be fined as much as 2000 leva, and motorists who run a red light will lose their driving licence for a month, Standard reports. The amendments introduced by Traffic Police will mean a 2000 leva fine for people driving with blood alcohol concentration of 1.2 per mille. In addition, pedestrians who jaywalk will be fined 40 leva.