These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on March 24 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

Politics

- Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) would decide on March 24 what to do with its member Deputy Foreign Minister Feim Chaushev, Dnevnik daily said. Chaoushev allegedly used two names, with ID in both names, allowing him to be a shareholder in several companies under his Bulgarian name, Petar. Dissatisfaction with Chaoushev in MRF was growing, the newspaper said.

- A coalition of small parties would assault Bulgaria’s Parliament, according to Monitor daily. A total of nine formations would unite for the Parliamentary elections in 2009.

Social

- The ruling majority in Parliament was considering the idea to decriminalise bribe giving, Sega daily said. Thus, the bribe-givers could contribute to the fight against corruption. According to the members of Parliament, people could be deliberately discredited as bribe-givers.

- Courts in Bulgaria approved more than 16 000 trial settlements in 2007, Sega said. Nearly one fifth of the 45 225 bills of indictment, a total of 7508 of them, never made it to court, while another 8425 were settled after court proceedings started, the newspaper said.

- Sofia needed between 200 and 240 million leva for the construction of 50 to 60 new kindergartens by 2012, Troud daily quoted Sofia municipal councillor Vili Lilkov as saying. The city hall could not fund the works alone, but needed state support, Lilkov said.

Economy

- The major banks were losing their market share, while smaller banks were taking advantage, Dnevnik said. In one year, the five major banks had lost their positions in credit giving, deposits and assets.

- Prices of most Bulgarian companies at Bulgarian stock exchange reached record-breaking low levels, Dnevnik said. Major investors were caving in to the overall panic, which was very unpleasant, the newspaper quoted brokers as saying.