Sat, Jul 04 2009
These are some of the top headlines in Bulgarian newspapers on September 2 2008. The Sofia Echo has not verified these stories and cannot vouch for their accuracy.
Politics
- The message of the European Commission's emergency summit, held on September 1, was that Russia was no longer a reliable partner for the European Union. The European Commission would launch a revision of its relations with Moscow because of its military actions against Georgia, Dnevnik daily said.
- The Cabinet would have to switch to `plan B' to resolve the Sofia refuse problem, Dnevnik said. Environment and Water Affairs Minister Djevdet Chakurov said that Plovdiv, Montana and Karlovo municipalities refused to accept the baled refuse for storage.
- The political council of the ruling coalition would gather on September 5 to discuss the Cabinet's priorities by the end of 2008, as well as the macro framework of the 2009 budget and the allocation of the 2008 budget surplus, Dnevnik said
Social
- Half the budget surplus would be utilised for an increase of pensions, for Christmas bonuses for the pensioners, increased energy financial aid and inflation compensation, Labour and Social Policy Minister Emilia Maslarova said as quoted by Dnevnik.
- Dimitar Berbatov was the most famous name in the football fields in Europe on September 1, Sega daily said. On the day when the transfer window closed, Berbatov's club Tottenham received two record-breaking offers for the striker, from Manchester City and Real Madrid, in addition to the offer made by Manchester United.
- State Administration Minister Nikolai Vassileva and European Integration Minister Gergana Granchatova would send a tip off to Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev about about illegal fee collection by 100 municipalities, Sega said.
- The first electronic passes for Sofia public transport would be issued within 10 to 15 days, Sega said. All electronic ticketing devices in public transport vehicles should be functioning by September 7, the newspaper said.
Economy
- The construction of Belene nuclear power plant would begin in March 2009, when the foundations of the first unit of the plant would be laid, Monitor daily said. The unit would be ready by March 2013.
In a blow against a problem that has been plaguing Bulgaria’s elections, State Agency for National Security and Interior Ministry say several people in a ‘major criminal organisation’ have been arrested for vote-buying, on the eve of the July 5 vote.
Barometer Info survey on July 3 2009, just ahead of the eve of Bulgaria’s national parliamentary elections, gives GERB 27.05 per cent and Sergei Stanishev’s Coalition for Bulgaria 19.09 per cent.
The exact number of people sacked from duty out of the 600 who refused to go to work on Monday is undisclosed, although reports claim that as of June 3 at least four people were told they were surplus to requirements.
Open your mind and face the unknown: the 2009 general elections in Bulgaria.
City halls have the power to decide the time frame of the ban on alcohol in stores, bars and restaurants