The hysteria around the exchange of driving licences before and after New Year is symptomatic, and not only of Bulgarian masochism.
When there are deadlines, we tend to wait until the last moment, after which we line up in endless queues, swearing, as if someone has forced us to wait to the last day.
It is also symptomatic of the mentality and efficiency of the administration. The same administration which is on the payroll of taxpayers and whose needs it has to serve.
If a month or two before the deadline for changing documents, the responsible bodies from the Ministry of Internal Affairs had clarified the expiration dates, the current mass gatherings at traffic police offices would be far less painful, both for drivers and for the administration.
Instead, traffic police preferred to give the impression that by December 31, 2001 cars’ registration numbers should be changed, in return for a fee, of course.
“It turned out” that the deadline for this exchange was not at all the end of last year, but is far from now.
Now that drivers are queueing up at traffic police branches, the directorate of the National Police Service has decided to elaborate on what the sanctions for unchanged drivers’ licences will be and on whom they would be levied.
Great. Just it again omitted to give full details on the matter and, more specifically, to say that the legislation envisions no sanctions for unchanged and unused licences.
That is, that people who have not applied to change their old documents and who do not drive are not liable to sanctions despite the efforts of some officials at traffic police desks to prove the opposite.
To be fully clear on the matter, you need nothing more than a press release.
Actually, you need something more: a desire to have things fully spelled out in order to minimise preconditions for corruption.
Kapital
The 100 lev banknote – a ticket to Argentina
Instead of a New Year’s card, Bulgarian National Bank chief Bebo Gavrijski delighted Bulgarians with his stated intention to print a 100 lev banknote.
All of a sudden the people of Bulgaria faced a quandary.
Should they be happy or should they cry?
Should they shout hooray and buy bigger wallets or rush to exchange leva into dollars?
It has been three days since a fad among pensioners popped up: to lack money for milk, but not for euros.
Either way, there are two alternatives:
Either the authorities intend to radically increase people’s income, just as they promised, or prepare technically for the times when they will start to allot big salaries.
Or they are taking timely steps regarding future inflation.
If we believe the latest public statements of financial expert Hursev , it looks like it is the second.
According to him, the state will be able to pay neither its foreign debt nor continually rising social welfare payments.
We all hope that this time Mr. Hursev is wrong and that we will not dance the Argentine tango.
Which, as is known, is performed in the following fashion – a step forward, two steps backward.
That is, first we introduce a monetary fund, then we drive the economy into stagnation and finally, set Parliament on fire.
Monitor
The magic word continuity
Purvanov, Zhelev and Stoyanov will get together for coffee each month. Zhelev will take up diplomatic missions.
This is not an excerpt of a political sci-fi novel, but the news from yesterday (Tuesday).
Even if they don’t get together each month, two or three times a year will still be enough.
Because there are no former presidents. Everyone who has been in the office at 2 Dondoukov Boulevard can help his successors, and therefore help Bulgaria with his experience and connections around the world. Like Jimmy Carter or Richard Nixon, who went on various missions after they left the White House.
The presidency was and remains probably the only Bulgarian institution where continuity happens in deed and not only in words. While our prime ministers cannot stand each other, our heads of state show what it means to put national interests above personal ones.
Trud
