Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov announced his government will request another sanctions exemption for the Lukoil refinery in Bulgaria next April, following a six-month review of the situation. He stated that the government's focus remains on maintaining legal order and minimizing potential arbitration risks while ensuring the fuel market's stability.
The Prime Minister defended the appointment of Rumen Spetsov as special commercial manager, citing his regulatory experience and expressing confidence that the refinery would operate smoothly under his management. He credited quiet, professional diplomacy with securing the current exemption from the United States by convincing officials that Bulgaria would comply with all financial...
Police are now issuing fines to drivers operating vehicles without winter tires, as a seasonal regulation took effect. From mid-November through the start of March, all cars must be equipped with tires with a tread depth of at least four millimeters, with winter tires being strongly recommended for better safety.
Authorities are also checking for proper windshield wiper fluid and functional headlights during this period. Pedestrians who use phones or wear headphones while crossing the street can also be fined 100 leva.
Auto experts explained that winter tires provide critical advantages in cold weather, as their softer rubber offers superior traction and braking performance compared to summer tires. Fines for non-compliant drivers...
A legislator from the PP-DB coalition, Nadezhda Yordanova, stated that while a recent sanctions exemption provides temporary relief, significant challenges remain for the management of the Lukoil Neftochim refinery in Burgas. She expressed surprise at the government's selection of Rumen Spetsov as special commercial manager, questioning his qualifications given his background in tax inspection rather than oil sector management.
Yordanova criticized the delayed appointment and suggested the chosen legal framework lacks the necessary judicial controls present in other models. She further accused the government of hypocrisy regarding anti-corruption efforts, noting a signed request for the resignation of a commission head that was not...
In October, 191 members of Bulgaria's National Assembly accumulated unjustified absences from plenary sessions. The GERB-SDF parliamentary group recorded the highest number, with all 66 of its members marked absent.
Individual absence records showed one deputy with five absences, while two others each had three. A significant majority of legislators, totaling 121, were absent twice without justification, and 67 members had a single unexcused absence. The parliamentary groups of Vazrazhdane and DPS-New Beginning followed with 30 and 29 absent members, respectively.
These absences largely occurred on specific dates when the parliament failed to achieve a quorum for its work. According to assembly rules, members must attend sessions and...
A former health minister, Dr. Miroslav Nenkov, has declared that the increased healthcare budget will be ineffective without genuine reforms, comparing the funding to pouring water into a bottomless pit. He asserted that high-level theft continues within the system and requires a determined political leader to enact necessary changes.
Commenting on a viral incident involving a Military Medical Academy doctor, Dr. Nenkov suggested the individual's actions indicated a profound psychological defect, noting that a medical degree does not guarantee empathy. He cautioned the academy against imposing punishments before a full investigation is completed.
Dr. Nenkov also stated that if psychological assessments are considered for doctors, they...
A representative from the PP-DB coalition, Martin Dimitrov, asserted that a more suitable candidate than Rumen Spetsov should have been found through a competitive process for the role of special manager at Lukoil. He accused the ruling party of postponing a resolution to the problem instead of creating a comprehensive national plan. Dimitrov stated that while mechanisms exist to prevent fuel price increases, the government is addressing the issue in a piecemeal fashion and firmly rejected the idea of nationalizing the refinery.
He strongly criticized the proposed 2026 budget, labeling it an excessively leftist document that involves reckless spending and places the country on a dangerous fiscal path. Dimitrov warned that the current...
President Rumen Radev criticized the government's handling of the Lukoil derogation, describing diplomatic celebrations over the U.S. license as unnecessary given America's strategic alliance with Europe. He declared the appointment of special manager Rumen Spetsov illegal, arguing that a mandated six-month activity plan was never developed or presented to the Security Council for approval.
Radev accused the ruling party of enacting legislation that dismantles constitutional safeguards for private property, drawing parallels to past scandals involving Bulgartabac and CorpBank. He asserted that the new laws grant the government unchecked power to dispose of shares and shield the special manager from standard administrative and judicial...
A municipal councilor, Vanya Grigorova, has criticized the proposed 2026 budget, stating its presentation as highly social is misleading, given its largest expenditure increase is for military armaments. She further argued that the budget was submitted with insufficient time for proper public discussion, creating a significant problem.
Regarding the appointment of Rumen Spetsov as special commercial manager for the Lukoil refinery, Grigorova alleged the selection was based on political obedience rather than professional merit. She expressed skepticism that the government chose him for his qualifications.
On a separate municipal issue, Grigorova stated that expanding paid parking zones in Sofia would not resolve the city's ongoing...
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov expressed confidence that the newly appointed special commercial manager for the Lukoil operations in Bulgaria would ensure a seamless supply and processing of oil. He stated that the market would remain stable under the leadership of Rumen Spetsov and his team.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a briefing on the Vertical Gas Corridor project, emphasizing his government's quiet and effective work. He attributed this successful outcome to parliamentary support and a focus on results rather than political dynamics.
The government had previously appointed Spetsov to manage the four Lukoil companies following a meeting of the Security Council, where ministers presented their reports and...
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