HEADLINES
Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Nova TV reported that Prime Minister Rumen Radev said his government had removed oligarchic influence from political power, with cutting its access to public funds the next priority. Mediapool.bg reports opposition criticism that the government is seeking control of existing business networks rather than dismantling them.
24 Chasa reports on negotiations over a new Supreme Judicial Council, while Mediapool.bg notes concerns about possible influence over the selection process. Dnevnik and Mediapool.bg also report on the presidential campaign, including disagreements over presidential powers, pardons and alleged attempts to organize a smear campaign.
bTV reported on support for households and businesses facing higher fuel costs, while 24 Chasa reports criticism of the EUR 50 payments and plans for stronger price enforcement. Capital notes concerns that the proposed pricing methodology would weaken competition, while Dnevnik reports employers’ demands for spending reforms and lower budget deficits.
POLITICS
BNT reported that Prime Minister Rumen Radev told a business breakfast organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria on Monday that his government had removed oligarchic influence from political power. He said the next task was to cut its access to public funds through procurement reviews and cooperation with foreign partner services.
“We are terminating compromised public procurement procedures,” Radev said. Nova TV also reported on the meeting and added that he sought more US investment and growth based on productivity, knowledge and competitiveness.
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Mediapool.bg reports that Yes, Bulgaria Co-Chair Ivaylo Mirchev disputes the government’s record, saying it is seeking to take control of existing business networks rather than dismantling them. In a Sunday interview, he says the National Revenue Agency has taken no visible action against GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Chair Delyan Peevski.
“There is a big difference between words and deeds,” Mirchev said. The site adds that he questions fuel import prices and wants the Consultative Council on National Security to meet.
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24 Chasa writes that Borissov wants GERB to return to conservative economic policies, pursue a balanced budget and focus on businesses and working people. Speaking in Burgas after departures from the party’s youth organization in Vratsa, he says members wishing to leave should do so and defends the decision not to field a presidential ticket.
“I want GERB to return to where it was: a 0% deficit,” Borissov said. Trud adds that, at a separate event in Albena, he questioned funding for the government’s EUR 50 payments to vulnerable people and said GERB would withdraw from the competition to promise more public spending.
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Dnevnik writes that presidential candidate and former caretaker PM Andrey Gurov opposes restoring the president’s unrestricted power to appoint caretaker governments. He says the current constitutional arrangements prevent excessive concentration of power.
“I have no need for more power,” Gurov said. The daily adds that he supports considering a broader list of eligible caretaker PMs and wants clearer criteria and greater transparency for presidential pardons.
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Mediapool.bg reports that President Iliana Iotova says she rejected an offer to organize a smear campaign against Gurov while he was caretaker PM, without identifying those behind it. She also defends her pardon of a convicted drug trafficker, saying the decision followed medical assessments and a Ministry of Justice review.
“We work on the basis of documents,” Iotova said. The site adds that she intends to run a positive campaign and criticize the government when necessary.
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Telegraph reports that political analysts expect a presidential runoff and see the hostile campaign and GERB’s absence from the race as factors that could depress turnout. Political scientist Dimitar Ganev points to limited incentives to vote, while analyst Parvan Simeonov says GERB voters could be particularly significant in the second round.
“We have no reason to expect high turnout,” Simeonov said. The daily adds that political scientist Lyubomir Stefanov sees Iotova as the likely first-placed candidate but questions how much governing-party support will transfer to her. The first round is scheduled for October 25, 2026, Telegraph reports.
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS
24 Chasa reports that Progressive Bulgaria (PB) Floor Leader Petar Vitanov sees the strongest prospects for agreement with Vazrazhdane and Democratic Bulgaria (DB) on Parliament’s 11 appointments to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). He says talks with Continue the Change (CC) are more difficult, while no talks have been held with GERB or the MRF; the appointments require 160 votes.
“We are open to all political parties that have declared the need for change in the judicial system,” Vitanov said. The daily adds that discussions concern selection rules, candidates’ qualifications and civil-society nominations, with Vitanov hoping the presidential campaign will not prevent agreement.
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Mediapool.bg writes that Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov has indications of efforts to influence the SJC election through meetings in former acting prosecutor general Borislav Sarafov’s office, but cannot confirm what happened. “I was not a witness to these events,” Naydenov said.
24 Chasa also reports the interview and adds that Naydenov intends to appeal to a five-member Supreme Administrative Court panel in his attempt to secure Sarafov’s disciplinary removal. Mediapool.bg reports that constitutional proposals allowing compromised SJC members to be removed are due for discussion by the end of 2026 or early 2027; appeals could delay the new council beyond November.
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Trud reports that Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev denies promising Ivaylo Kalushev responsibility for security at Vitosha Nature Park. He says their discussions concerned protecting the mountain with fewer staff and more technology.
“Sofia Municipality has absolutely no involvement in the security of Vitosha Nature Park,” Terziev said. Telegraph also reports the denial and adds that he questions why new details of the Petrohan–Okolchitsa investigation emerge before political events and wants forensic examinations completed quickly. Trud notes that in March he put his donations to the Petrohan group at BGN 251,000.
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Trud reports that three Kardzhali municipal employees, including a deputy mayor and the municipal secretary, were detained for up to 24 hours during an investigation into alleged coercion. Mayor Erol Myumyun says the two senior officials were taken from the municipal administration on Friday.
The daily adds that police are examining allegations that a former employee was pressured to submit resignation documents. Myumyun says the complaint came from a former municipal enterprise manager who had lost court challenges to her dismissal. Police have sent the material to prosecutors, Trud reports.
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Trud writes that the Ministry of Justice has put amendments to public consultation proposing prison terms of up to six years for false testimony before a notary and the use of forged wills or powers of attorney in property fraud. The package also includes a register of wills and clearer requirements for property-related powers of attorney.
The daily adds that the higher maximum sentence would classify the offence as serious and allow special surveillance techniques. Proposed penalties for abuse of trust include imprisonment of up to four years and fines of EUR 500 to EUR 2,500, Trud reports.
ECONOMY
bTV reported on government support for transport operators, farmers and vulnerable households facing higher fuel prices. Former social minister Hristina Hristova said around 550,000 people would receive EUR 50 each, alongside support for essential transport services and an excise reduction for liquefied petroleum gas.
“Whether it is enough is another question,” Hristova said. 24 Chasa adds that DB MP Vladislav Panev considers the payment inadequate and links the limited support to a budget deficit of 5.7%. “This is a drop in the ocean when it comes to inflation,” Panev said.
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24 Chasa reports that Commission for Consumer Protection Chair Maya Manolova wants swift legal changes allowing sanctions when retail prices depart substantially from fair value. She says the regulator will identify the shops and products concerned and inspect retailers, debt collectors and petrol stations.
“I will press for swift legislative changes,” Manolova said. The daily also reports her view that Bulgarian prices have reached average European levels while purchasing power remains far behind. Petrol-station checks begin on Monday and will examine whether removal of the LPG excise duty reaches consumers, 24 Chasa reports.
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Capital writes that economist Lachezar Bogdanov of the Institute for Market Economics considers the government’s draft methodology for assessing price increases likely to weaken competition and ultimately raise prices. His commentary says allowing only the nominal increase in suppliers’ prices to be passed on would squeeze margins, discourage market entry and disadvantage low-cost suppliers, including small Bulgarian producers.
The weekly adds that requiring justification for each product’s price would impose substantial accounting burdens. Bogdanov says unclear rules for allocating shared costs would give regulators excessive discretion, while competition and new suppliers offer more durable pressure on prices.
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24 Chasa reports that Lukoil Neftohim Burgas special administrator Evgeni Simeonov says using the refinery’s earnings to subsidize fuel prices would erode its capital and threaten future crude purchases. He says it is currently profitable but its full-year result remains uncertain.
“The refinery and Lukoil Bulgaria operate on a minimal margin,” Simeonov said. Mediapool.bg also reports the interview and adds that he denies Russian crude is entering Bulgaria and sees sufficient supplies to resume diesel and gas oil exports. Simeonov expects Parliament to lift the export ban soon, the outlets report.
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Dnevnik writes that the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria wants substantive reforms in the 2027 budget and opposes higher taxes and social-security contributions. It proposes deficit ceilings of 2% of GDP in 2027 and 1% in 2028, followed by a balanced budget in 2029.
The daily adds that employers want automatic public-sector pay increases removed, vacant posts abolished and overlapping administrative structures merged. They also propose replacing the minimum pension with contribution-based payments and means-tested assistance and shifting healthcare funding towards prevention and outpatient care. The draft budget must reach the European Commission by October 15, 2026, Dnevnik reports.
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BNT reported that grain producers faced increases of up to 50% in key input costs while wheat prices remained broadly unchanged. National Association of Grain Producers board member Lyudmil Rabotov said wheat sold for EUR 160 to EUR 180 per tonne, depending on quality.
“The price is the same,” Rabotov said. The broadcaster added that farmers considered planned aid of EUR 0.44 per litre of gas oil insufficient but wanted prompt payment to finance autumn sowing. Better yields alone could not offset higher costs, BNT reported.
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Capital writes that buying an off-plan home exposes purchasers to risks because a preliminary contract does not transfer ownership and payments may become unsecured claims if the developer fails. Avalant co-founder Ivan Parmakov says buyers should commission legal checks of the land, developer and financing before committing money.
The weekly adds that Parmakov favours paying 20% under the preliminary contract and 80% after the building receives its occupancy permit. He also recommends clear construction deadlines, delay penalties and signing only after a building permit takes effect; refusal to explain ownership or funding is a warning sign.
PUBLIC ASSETS AND TRANSPORT
24 Chasa writes that Minister of Youth and Sports Encho Keryazov says inspections found state sports facilities used by businesses without rent or contracts, with suspected irregularities referred to prosecutors. “The losses are enormous,” Keryazov said.
The daily adds that he reports an 800% annual increase in revenue at Sofia’s Winter Palace, where cash payments have been stopped, although the facility remains in poor condition. A new sports bill strengthening oversight of federations and inactive clubs is due for public consultation by the end of September, with adoption sought by the end of 2026, 24 Chasa reports.
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Nova TV reported that investigative journalist Dimitar Stoyanov linked road-barrier procurement to politically connected companies and a market dominated by a small number of suppliers. Transport engineer Yasen Ishev questioned prices and construction quality.
“First, prices are greatly inflated,” Ishev said. The broadcaster added that he saw procurement specifications as favouring steel barriers, while reinforced-concrete alternatives could cost less over ten years. He accepted that higher steel prices could explain some contract adjustments and wanted broader use of concrete systems.
HEALTHCARE
Nova TV reported that hospital admissions increased by 100,000 in the first half of 2026, with National Health Insurance Fund figures showing a 4.7% rise. Virologist Radka Argirova said population ageing alone did not adequately explain the increase.
“We need to check how clinical pathway funding is being used,” Argirova said. The broadcaster added that she expected the first influenza cases in early October and recommended vaccination in the first half of the month, ahead of an expected epidemic peak in late January.
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bTV reported that free influenza vaccinations for children and people over 65 would begin on October 01, 2026. General practitioner Miroslav Spasov said children aged 6 months to 7 years would qualify, with eligibility for older children up to 18 restricted to those with chronic conditions.
“A vaccine given on time is the best vaccine,” Spasov said. The broadcaster added that doctors would contact patients and examine them before vaccination. Supplies were expected by the end of September, bTV reported.
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Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported that modern biomarkers and brain imaging could identify Alzheimer’s pathology before obvious symptoms appeared. Neurologist Lachezar Traykov of Alexandrovska Hospital said earlier diagnosis was increasingly important as treatments targeting the disease process became available.
“We are trying to bring early diagnosis forward as much as possible,” Traykov said. The radio added that positive biomarkers alone did not establish clinical dementia and required specialist interpretation. New therapies could slow deterioration in selected patients at an early stage but did not cure the disease, BNR reported.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
BNR reported that a lift linking Serdika metro station with Sveta Nedelya Square in central Sofia had been out of service for more than a month. Resident Asen Vladimirov said repeated breakdowns restricted access for people with disabilities, older people and parents with pushchairs.
“This is a nightmare not just for me, but for hundreds of people,” Vladimirov said. The radio added that Sofia History Museum, which was responsible for the lift, blamed flooding caused by faulty installation but gave no repair deadline. Disability groups planned a protest outside Sofia Municipality on Monday, BNR reported.
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Dnevnik writes that Minister of Culture Evtim Miloshev promises higher pay for Bulgarian National Radio musicians following protests over salaries of EUR 700 to EUR 800. He says the government will find a sustainable solution soon but gives no details.
The daily adds that one musician plans a hunger strike and that the ensembles’ funding, calculated as a share of the radio’s budget, is insufficient. BNR Symphony Orchestra conductor Konstantin Ilievski says low pay threatens recruitment and the retention of leading ensembles.
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Mediapool.bg reports that inspectors found crocodiles, turtles, an iguana, two raccoons and African grey parrots in a Sofia restaurant without documents establishing their origin or the required registrations. Environmental officials, food safety inspectors, police and Sofia Zoo representatives took part in the inspection.
The site adds that the raccoons were confiscated and taken to Sofia Zoo because they are classified as an invasive species. The owner must submit documentation for the other animals by October 09, 2026 or face confiscation and administrative penalties, Mediapool.bg reports.
SPORT
24 Chasa reports that Bulgaria’s men’s volleyball team lost 3–2 to Germany after leading by two sets in their European Championship round-of-16 match in Sofia. Coach Gianlorenzo Blengini’s side won the opening sets 25–21, 25–21 but lost the next three 19–25, 23–25, 12–15.
The daily adds that 12,198 spectators watched the match and Bulgaria conceded 28 points through service errors. Germany will face Poland in the best-of-eight round in Sofia, 24 Chasa reports.
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24 Chasa reports that Bulgaria lost 3-2 to Denmark in their Davis Cup World Group I tie. Iliyan Radulov lost the deciding match 6-2, 6-4 to Elmer Moller after Grigor Dimitrov’s defeat by Holger Rune brought Denmark level.
The daily adds that Bulgaria had led 2-1 after winning the doubles. The team will play for its place in World Group I in February 2027, 24 Chasa reports.
Media Review: September 21 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-21 09:20:00
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