Media Review: October 19 2026

POLITICS
Trud features an interview with political scientist Stoycho Stoychev, who predicts that incumbent President Iliana Iotova has an 80% chance of winning a run-off against Andrey Gurov, with a second round almost certain. Stoychev says Gurov and his running mate, Georgi Kandev, have already mobilized most of their electoral potential and are unlikely to attract enough additional votes to close the gap. He argues that the April 19 parliamentary elections largely determined the presidential race by shaping the candidates’ prospects, with little happening since to change the underlying trends. According to Stoychev, Iotova is likely to receive fewer votes than Progressive Bulgaria won in April, partly because the parliamentary elections drew unusually high numbers of otherwise infrequent voters and because Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s personal standing cannot be fully transferred to another candidate. He also suggests that traditional attitudes towards women in senior political and military roles could further reduce her support, while maintaining that she remains the clear favourite in a run-off. Stoychev attributes Gurov and Kandev’s projected support to voters who oppose Iotova, including some GERB supporters, but says their potential for further gains is limited. He also argues that the campaign has failed to produce a substantive debate on Bulgaria’s future direction, with attention focused instead on Ukraine and domestic scandals. In his view, Iotova has little incentive to take part in a debate that could expose her to attacks, while Gurov would gain little from debating less prominent candidates. Stoychev describes the election as resembling a contest between US Democrats and Republicans, arguing that Radev’s political position is closer to that of Donald Trump than to Russia or European leaders, while saying that some of Radev’s supporters may be disappointed by his ambiguous stance on Russia. He further criticises Gurov’s attempts to attract GERB voters, interpreting them as a sign of weakness, and says some minor presidential candidates are motivated by access to publicly funded campaign media packages and a desire for publicity.
***
On bTV’s morning show, sociologist Andrey Raichev said Bulgaria’s main interest is to preserve peace and avoid further escalation of tensions with Russia, while stressing that the country’s security depends primarily on its NATO membership. Political analyst Georgi Harizanov criticised what he described as the Government’s overly cautious approach towards Moscow, calling for greater resolve in stating Bulgaria’s position while stressing that this does not mean advocating military conflict. Journalist Veselin Stoynev questioned the practical outcome of investigations into attacks on two ships in the Black Sea and asked what diplomatic results were achieved at a meeting with Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova. The participants also debated NATO and the EU’s role in guaranteeing Bulgaria’s security, US President Donald Trump’s policies and a deal involving Russia which Raichev said could reduce the risk of a wider military conflict. Turning to the presidential campaign, Raichev said Iliana Iotova remains the clear favourite, with no visible narrowing of her lead despite criticism over issues including proposed measures concerning homemade brandy, the Shipka case, the pardon of a drug trafficker known as the “Petrich Escobar” and drone-related security concerns. He also said Andrey Gurov has had insufficient opportunities to demonstrate his abilities publicly, while his running mate, Georgi Kandev, has made few public appearances. Harizanov, meanwhile, argued that the Government and the President belong to the same political camp and that some of the issues dominating the campaign stem from the Government’s own actions. He questioned the reliability of firm electoral predictions in the absence of sufficient public opinion polls, added that he expects low turnout and said the run-off could be shaped by a negative vote against one of the candidates.
***
Bulgarian National Television’s (BNT) morning programme featured an interview with Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov, who said Bulgaria does not face the same conditions for social unrest as France, citing differences in urban segregation, drug-related problems and financial stability, while acknowledging that the country has its own social difficulties. Hristov questioned whether the EU will survive in its current form and urged Bulgaria to prepare for scenarios involving reduced European funding and uncontrolled migration amid instability in the Middle East. On the war in Ukraine, he called for an end to hostilities and further escalation, arguing that unrest and political instability in France and other European countries, including Germany, could weaken public support for continued aid to Kyiv. He said a swift end to the war would be the most beneficial outcome for Europe and opposed Bulgaria becoming involved in geopolitical conflicts. Regarding security in the Black Sea, Hristov said a proposed moratorium should cover all hostile military operations in the region, while warning that maritime mines, sunken vessels and high insurance costs would continue to threaten shipping even if attacks stopped. He called for Bulgaria to await the results of investigations into recent attacks on vessels in its exclusive economic zone before taking an official position on responsibility, and suggested that NATO members are reluctant to invoke Articles 4 and 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty because of concerns about escalation. Turning to the draft 2027 state budget, Hristov said the Government aims to balance revenue and expenditure, with additional revenue expected from a tax on banks’ excess profits and improved tax collection. Although he acknowledged the target of keeping the deficit below 3% of GDP, he questioned the need to adhere strictly to that threshold, noting that many European countries are struggling to meet it. He confirmed plans to increase public-sector salaries by 5%, teachers’ salaries by 7.5% and pensions, and said the Government aims to distribute resources fairly.
***
Dnevnik announced that the Green Movement party has officially decided to support the Andrey Gurov – Georgi Kandev presidential and vice-presidential candidate ticket. Here’s how the party’s press centre explained the decision: “We are taking this decision both in view of the character of the presidential candidate Andrey Gurov and on the basis of absolute principles in defence of the rule of law, which we see being increasingly undermined by the current government. We are particularly concerned about the proposed unconstitutional building amnesty for illegal and dangerous structures, contained in the amendments to the Spatial Planning Act, which are due to be tabled in Parliament for adoption during the presidential elections. Bulgaria needs a president who will, as soon as they take office, exercise the institution’s powers to deter attempts to undermine the public interest; a president who will be an unwavering defender of the rule of law and democracy.”
DEFENCE
In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), former defence minister Atanas Zapryanov says Bulgaria could expand the mandate of the mine countermeasures group to help address the threat posed by drone strikes in the Black Sea. He says Bulgaria, Romania and Turkiye should coordinate their efforts, as none of the three NATO member states bordering the Black Sea can address the threat alone. Zapryanov suggests that aircraft based in Bulgaria could conduct maritime patrols and reconnaissance, noting that Turkiye is the only one of the three countries with maritime patrol aviation. He also advocates strengthening Bulgaria’s air capabilities, including patrol aircraft and air defence systems, and says the country’s naval and air forces could contribute to protecting and escorting vessels, provided they receive NATO support and coordinate with allies. He stresses that efforts should focus on detecting and destroying drones in a timely manner. Zapryanov welcomes the decision to purchase five additional IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems under the EU’s SAFE programme, but says Bulgaria also needs specialized counter-drone systems to intercept small targets. He adds that the country has scaled back its plans to procure counter-drone systems from abroad to give the domestic defence industry an opportunity to develop them, warning that Bulgaria risks becoming merely a customer of a rapidly expanding global industry if it fails to develop its own drone and counter-drone production capabilities. Zapryanov also welcomes continuity in defence policy.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Dnevnik analyses the recent hearing of candidates for four seats representing prosecutors on the Prosecutors’ Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), describing unusually outspoken criticism of the prosecution service’s leadership and alleged links between magistrates and informal influence networks. The article says candidates raised issues surrounding the cases known as the “Eight Dwarfs” and “the Notary”, named after alleged judicial influence peddlers Peyo Evroto and Martin Bojanov, as well as concerns over nepotism, pressure from senior officials and the handling of disciplinary and career decisions. Some candidates called for the networks to be exposed and the magistrates involved to be identified, while others pledged to defend the independence and transparency of the prosecution service without explaining how this could be achieved without confronting existing informal arrangements. The analysis highlights particularly strong criticism of a decision concerning the reassignment of the son of SJC member Yordan Stoev, which some candidates described as outrageous, unlawful and an abuse of power. It also points to longstanding working conditions and career-development problems among rank-and-file prosecutors, including excessive overtime, inadequate pay, irregular recruitment competitions and concerns that promotion does not depend solely on professional merit. However, Dnevnik questions whether the candidates’ statements signal genuine reform or merely a realignment of influence within the institution. It criticizes the selection process for lacking an objective assessment of candidates’ professional records, potential misconduct and asset declarations, noting that allegations raised by investigative media against some candidates were dismissed by them as media campaigns. The article also highlights contrasting views on the prosecution service’s relationship with the media, from calls to reduce the need to explain itself to journalists to proposals for greater public engagement through social media and podcasts. Ultimately, the author questions whether prosecutors will be able to vote freely in the October 24 election or face pressure from their superiors, particularly in smaller offices where dissent could carry professional consequences. The article concludes that the decisive test of whether the process represents genuine change will be whether information about pressure emerges: if senior figures are elected and other prosecutors remain silent to protect their jobs, the process will amount to another redistribution of influence rather than meaningful reform.
ECONOMY
On Nova Television’s morning show, financial journalist and economic analyst Stefan Antonov and economist Evgeniy Kanev debated the Government’s 2027 budget plans, the proposed increase in revenue by around EUR 2 billion and the risks posed by tensions in the Black Sea. Antonov defended the Government’s approach, arguing that reducing the budget deficit should not necessarily involve sharp spending cuts, but can also be achieved through economic growth and a gradual reduction in public expenditure as a share of GDP. Kanev, by contrast, said the budget places too much of the burden on the private sector amid weakening exports, lower investor interest and growing international uncertainty. He warned that higher social security contributions will weigh particularly heavily on workers and businesses operating in the formal economy, while questioning the lack of structural reforms and the planned 5% increase in public-sector pay. The two analysts also disagreed over whether the budget adequately accounts for the risks of disruption to shipping in the Black Sea. Kanev proposed a temporary State fund to cover part of the increased insurance risk for vessels, warning that higher premiums could undermine the competitiveness of Bulgarian exports and disrupt supplies of raw materials. Antonov argued that the fiscal reserve should provide the Government with a buffer against unexpected crises and cautioned that alarmist public statements could further undermine confidence. They also discussed proposals to tax banks’ excess profits, with Antonov suggesting that a one-off increase in the tax burden on a highly profitable sector could help curb the deficit without raising taxes across the board, while acknowledging that banks could pass some of the costs on to customers. In a further discussion on excess-profit taxation, the two took opposing positions on Lukoil. Kanev argued that the State should apply consistent principles to companies making unusually high profits and questioned claims that the refinery operates on low margins, pointing to financial relations between companies in the group. Antonov said additional taxation would be difficult to justify if the refinery’s margins are indeed low and warned of the risk of international arbitration, citing a potential claim by Lukoil’s owners equivalent to around 3% of Bulgaria’s GDP. The analysts also assessed plans to strengthen controls over disability assessments issued by the Territorial Expert Medical Commissions (TELK), from which the Government expects savings of EUR 228 million. Both stressed the need to prevent abuse without harming people who genuinely require support, while Kanev argued that better e-governance and more effective management of public spending, particularly in healthcare and energy, could generate further savings.
***
24 Chasa analyses the Government’s budget plan for 2027, highlighting the projected record-high budget deficit in 2026 and warning that persistent fiscal imbalances could fuel inflation and increase public debt. The article notes that the Finance Ministry expects the deficit to reach 5% of GDP this year, below the 5.4% target in the adopted budget and the 6.1% projected under unchanged policies. However, accounting for a 0.5-percentage-point adjustment following audits by the National Audit Office, the underlying deficit would amount to 5.5% of GDP. The analysis also points out that the deficit stood at 2.8% of GDP at the end of September, meaning it would nearly double in the final three months of the year if budgeted spending is maintained. The author argues that domestic inflationary pressures remain strong, attributing them to rising service prices, the expanding money supply and household lending, alongside higher energy prices. For 2027, the Government aims to reduce the deficit to 4.3% of GDP, while public debt is projected to rise to 33.3% of GDP, its highest level since 2004. The article criticizes the lack of a longer-term fiscal outlook and argues that most of the planned deficit reduction appears to rely on a one-off tax on excess profits in several sectors, with few details provided on spending reforms. Planned increases include 5% for public-sector salaries, 7.5% for teachers’ pay and 8% for pensions, while trade unions are demanding a 10% pay rise. The author argues that deeper structural reforms, including a reduction in public-sector employment, could allow for higher wage increases while accelerating deficit reduction.
***
In an interview with 24 Chasa, the new President of the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Roderick Moore, says the organization operates openly and has no hidden agenda. Moore, a former US diplomat with more than 30 years of experience, says his longstanding ties to Bulgaria and his commitment to public service were key factors in accepting the position. He identifies Bulgaria’s accession to the EU and NATO as among the country’s most significant achievements over the past decades, recalling the political changes he witnessed during his first posting to Sofia in the early 1990s. Moore says the Foundation will continue to support private-sector development and democratic resilience, while stressing that it does not seek to interfere in Bulgaria’s political life or challenge the country’s traditions and history. Having supported more than 1,500 projects and provided over USD 300 million in funding over 16 years, the Foundation aims to back initiatives that offer the greatest potential benefit to the country. Moore highlights education, mentoring and entrepreneurship programmes, including the children’s science centre Muzeiko, Teenovator, Mentor the Young and the Business Academy for Start-up Entrepreneurs, as ways to help develop a new generation of Bulgarian innovators, entrepreneurs, public servants and active members of civil society. He explains that the Foundation’s endowment originated from the approximately USD 400 million generated by the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund, established with US congressional support to encourage private-sector development in Central and Eastern Europe after the Cold War. The Foundation does not receive government funding or raise money from external sources, but manages and invests these assets. Moore also stresses the importance of cooperation with national and local authorities, noting that projects achieve the best results when institutions are actively involved. Looking ahead, he says he hopes to see more young Bulgarians succeed both at home and internationally and find opportunities to develop their careers in Bulgaria.
SOCIETY
Trud reports that Bulgarians placed bets worth nearly EUR 1.7 billion on gambling games in the first eight months of 2026, while winnings amounted to almost EUR 850 million, according to the newspaper’s calculations based on National Revenue Agency (NRA) data. The NRA collected EUR 181 million in fees and contributions for socially responsible behaviour from gambling operators over the period. The newspaper notes that gambling expenditure could rise by around 27% in 2026 if the current trend continues, following an increase of about 40% in 2025 compared with 2024. Online gambling accounts for the largest share, with bets estimated at EUR 1.39 billion in the first eight months of the year and budget revenue from online operators projected to exceed EUR 212 million for the full year. Spending on scratch cards and the Bulgarian Sports Totaliser’s games is also increasing, with bets in these categories expected to reach EUR 344 million in 2026. The article highlights concerns over underage gambling, with NRA spokesperson Anna Mitova saying that schoolchildren sometimes place online bets through older classmates or relatives, and occasionally use their parents’ identities without their knowledge. The agency has shut down more than 2,000 illegal gambling websites since the beginning of the year, bringing the total to over 8,500. NRA data also show that 61,978 people were listed in the register of individuals vulnerable to gambling addiction at the end of September. The newspaper reports that Bulgaria has 958 licensed gaming halls with 26,324 slot machines, 22 casinos and 62 licences for online gambling operators. Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Gambling Act would increase the tax rate on online gambling operators from 20% to 21% in 2027 and 22% in 2028, with the additional tax potentially waived if operators direct the funds to sports clubs or Olympic athletes and teams. The proposals would also introduce a minimum monthly tax of EUR 100,000 on the difference between online bets received and winnings paid out.
WORLD
On Bulgarian National Radio’s (BNR), political scientist Milen Zhelev said the protests in France are not spontaneous, arguing that immigration and long-standing economic problems have contributed to social tensions. He questioned whether demands for better education adequately explain the demonstrations, while acknowledging shortcomings in the French education system. Zhelev said France’s budget deficit and economic difficulties predate President Emmanuel Macron and are likely to persist beyond his presidency, regardless of the outcome of next year’s presidential election. He described the latest protests as a culmination of looting and vandalism that caused millions of euros in damage to businesses and private property, and argued that Macron’s domestic difficulties undermine the impact of his ambitious foreign policy. According to Zhelev, French society is becoming increasingly polarized between the far left, represented by Jean-Luc Melenchon, and the far right, represented by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, with the protests potentially benefiting the latter. He linked growing anti-immigration sentiment across Europe to economic pressures and warned that protests could become more radical if the far right comes to power in France, potentially involving killings and the abduction of police officers. Zhelev did not foresee a new wave of exits from the EU comparable to Brexit, although he describes the situation as unpredictable. He also distinguished protests in Serbia and Albania from those in Western Europe, saying demonstrations in the two Balkan countries are increasingly treating violence as a legitimate form of protest. Zhelev said there are currently no visible signs of protests in Bulgaria, although certain developments could trigger public discontent, adding that Bulgarian politicians should not complain about the difficulties of governing when other countries face greater challenges.
In an interview on BNT’s morning programme, Kamelia Konakchieva-Triboulin, head of the Cyril and Methodius Bulgarian School in Paris, said the protests in France were predominantly peaceful and positive, arguing that media coverage has focused excessively on vandalism and clashes at the expense of the participation of around a million young people, many of them supported by their parents. She said the demonstrations reflected civic engagement among young people and criticized what she described as a repressive response by the authorities. Konakchieva-Triboulin questioned how the extensive looting in Paris was allowed to occur, noting that the city’s security forces are accustomed to managing frequent demonstrations, and said some aspects of Saturday’s crowd control were unusual. She added that the protests began in September with demonstrations at secondary schools and that the initial response to the student movement was already repressive. Citing lawyers’ assessments, she said the number of arrests was exceptionally high, exceeding that during the Yellow Vests protests, with many minors and school students detained. She argued that this disproportionate response contributed to the escalation of tensions.

Media Review: October 19 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-19 10:39:00

Ramaswamy Campaign Admits It’s Behind Inflammatory Ad Featuring Rival’s Estranged Mother 2026

Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news. Bulgaria news, Bulgarian news, news from Bulgaria, latest news Bulgaria, breaking news Bulgaria, Bulgaria today, Bulgarian politics, Bulgarian government. Bulgarian economy, Bulgarian business, Bulgarian society, Bulgarian culture, Bulgarian tourism, Bulgarian sports, Bulgarian media, Bulgarian parliament. Sofia news, Plovdiv news, Varna news, Burgas news, Ruse news, Stara Zagora news, Pleven news, Sliven news. Dobrich news, Shumen news, Pernik news, Haskovo news, Yambol news, Pazardzhik news, Blagoevgrad news, Veliko Tarnovo news. Vratsa news, Gabrovo news, Asenovgrad news, Vidin news, Bulgarian local news, Bulgaria current affairs, Bulgaria breaking news, Bulgaria headlines. Balkan news, Southeast Europe news, Bulgarian international news, Bulgaria world news, Bulgarian elections, Bulgaria events, Bulgaria analysis, Bulgaria updates.Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law.

BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-19 10:39:00

Billionaire Scored Trump Pardon After $50 Million Deal With Alina Habba 2026