Multiple protests organized by the Podkrepa trade union brought Sofia to a standstill as thousands of state workers demanded substantial wage increases and improved working conditions. Agriculture and forestry employees gathered outside the Council of Ministers, healthcare workers rallied near the National Assembly, and staff from the Employment Agency and Social Assistance Agency demonstrated on Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Boulevard.
Administrative workers in agriculture revealed that chief specialists earn just 1,169 leva despite decades of service, with the figure rising only to approximately 1,500 leva. Kamelia Petkova from the Kyustendil Regional Directorate explained that a mere 5 percent raise is scheduled for next year, while...
Bulgaria will curtail public viewing of notarial documents after cabinet ministers approved regulatory amendments targeting fraudulent property schemes. Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev announced the restriction protects bank account numbers, signatures and other sensitive personal data currently exposed through unrestricted registry access, though basic property information remains available through free reports.
The administrative change takes effect mid-January as authorities combat identity theft operations exploiting comprehensive transactional records previously available to anyone requesting notarized deed copies.
Former tax chief Rumen Spetsov tightened his grip on sanctioned Russian petroleum giant Lukoil by ousting executives across three Bulgarian subsidiaries and positioning himself as a singular authority over retail fueling networks, aviation supply operations, and maritime bunker services. Commercial registry filings reveal the special administrator terminated Alexander Velichkov from the domestic station chain while removing Russian national Mikhail Sizov from parallel aviation and shipping fuel divisions, though Velichkov retains oversight of the Burgas refinery board.
The consolidation follows Spetsov's recent dismissal of board chairman Evgeni Manyakhin from representative duties at the processing facility, leaving the Russian...
Bulgarian authorities uncovered systematic violations across hundreds of riverside properties after inspectors discovered municipalities approved construction without coordinating with water management agencies or environmental regulators. Regional Development Minister Ivan Ivanov revealed that over 370 sites breached planning and water protection statutes, with mayors authorizing detailed development schemes while basin directorates remained absent from expert council meetings.
Officials identified alarming patterns where cadastral maps omitted river boundaries entirely, allowing buildings to rise on covered waterways and flood zones with dynamically shifting banks. The government plans legislative amendments prohibiting structures in...
Bulgarian border security detected smuggling networks abandoning Serbian crossings for Romanian routes after Schengen expansion altered enforcement patterns, according to Commissioner Kristiyan Goryanov from the Cross-Border Organized Crime division. Traffickers deployed sophisticated concealment methods through custom-built vehicle compartments while demanding higher payments as authorities tightened interdiction efforts.
Authorities uncovered unprecedented coordination among international criminal organizations working across multiple jurisdictions to ferry Middle Eastern migrants toward Western destinations. Bulgarian operatives typically handle brief segments transporting asylum seekers from safe houses to border departure points...
Sofia municipal councilor Stavrev condemned a multiyear fuel procurement scheme that forces taxpayers to bankroll intermediary fees exceeding four million euros despite the transit authority possessing direct purchasing credentials. The politician questioned why Stolich Autotranslatov's leadership plans lock ratepayers into contracts extending beyond current elected terms while saddling residents with unnecessary brokerage costs of eight euros per megawatt hour.
The temporary executive faces accusations of bypassing oversight after GERB eliminated council review processes that previously scrutinized such expenditures through specialized committees. Stavrev previously endured litigation after exposing similar waste, maintaining that the...
Sofia's administration authorized holiday payments for 536,000 elderly citizens living below the poverty threshold after allocating 64 million leva to the National Social Security Institute. Social Minister Borislav Gutsanov confirmed every fourth retiree would collect 120 leva alongside December pensions, targeting those earning under 638 leva monthly while excluding beneficiaries with supplemental income streams.
GERB-SDF originated the proposal with backing from DPS Novo nacholu, while party officials pushed for permanent legislation transforming seasonal bonuses into regulated poverty assistance. Gutsanov pledged cooperation with tax authorities to verify eligibility through income verification, assuring vulnerable populations that...
Bulgaria's cabinet removed Malina Krumova from leadership of the State Agency for Road Traffic Safety during ministerial proceedings, replacing her with Rosen Rapchev, according to unverified reports. The traffic enforcement veteran formerly commanded the Interior Ministry's patrol division before assuming the transport security position amid mounting concern over highway fatalities.
Krumova had guided the organization since its 2019 creation after serving in multiple deputy portfolios spanning environmental policy, European funding administration under a caretaker administration, and regional infrastructure development. Her departure follows intensified government efforts targeting vehicular accident prevention through expanded...
Bulgarian labor federation CITUB fired back at business groups who accused union demonstrators of advancing partisan agendas rather than defending worker interests. The confederation challenged critics to confront its nearly 300,000 members directly at future rallies if they truly believed employees were serving political masters, dismissing such characterizations as lazy smear tactics divorced from legitimate advocacy for livable wages.
The union questioned whether employers condemned protests demanding electricity subsidies for industry or only mobilizations seeking higher public sector compensation. Parliamentary committees are prepared to finalize spending legislation amid dueling demonstrations, with business associations joining...
