The cover stories in the Tuesday media vary from voter attitudes ahead of the October 25 presidential elections to property taxes to drone attacks, and no single issue dominates.
Politics
The 24 Chasa daily reports that hundreds of thousands of euros in public funding for presidential campaign advertising are being allocated to obscure media outlets, raising questions about the use of taxpayer money. The most striking example is the online television channel Fair Bulgaria [Spravedliva Balgaria], which had received EUR124,484 in campaign advertising contracts from nine presidential candidates by October 13, compared with only EUR 57,855 allocated to the Bulgarian National Television (BNT). Despite its substantial funding, the channel has extremely limited reach: its most-watched recent YouTube video attracted just 316 views, while its Facebook posts received only around 10 likes. Four candidates allocated their entire state-funded media allowance of approximately EUR 20,452 each to the channel. The contracts covered studio and on-location interviews, prime-time videos, and campaign clips. 24 Chasa attempted unsuccessfully to contact the channel’s representatives to clarify how it had secured contracts with nearly one-third of the candidates, highlighting concerns about transparency and the effectiveness of public spending on political advertising.
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A nationally representative poll conducted by Sova Harris for Trud daily between 13 and 17 October 2026 indicates declining interest in Bulgaria’s presidential election, with declared voter turnout at 38.1%, around two percentage points below the 2021 election. According to the survey, 49.2% of respondents who intend to vote support the ticket of Iliana Iotova and Kiril Valchev, compared with 24.8% for their main challengers, Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev. The nationalist candidates Kostadin Kostadinov and Petar Volgin receive 9.5%. The poll also measures hypothetical second-round preferences, showing 65.8% support for Iotova–Valchev against 34.2% for Gyurov–Kandev. The Sova Harris analysts attribute the low voter interest to the presence of a clear frontrunner and a campaign focused more on personal attacks than substantive policy debates. Beyond electoral preferences, the survey finds that 47.7% of respondents favour cooperation with European partners while defending Bulgaria’s national interests, 49.8% expect the president to act as a check on government decisions, and 47.5% primarily blame domestic political factors for rising prices. Although 45.2% believe the government will ensure fair and democratic elections, 24% disagree and 30.8% remain undecided, indicating that confidence in the electoral process is not strong.
Drone attacks
During a joint interview with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova on Bulgarian National Television (BNT), Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Anita Orbán expressed Budapest’s full solidarity with Bulgaria and strong support for the security and resilience of Black Sea shipping. She stressed that the Black Sea is a critical trade route connecting Europe with Central Asia and that any disruption to maritime transport could threaten food and grain supplies. Foreign Minister Petrova warned that continued attacks in Bulgarian waters, its exclusive economic zone and Romanian waters risk turning commercial vessels into targets in an active conflict, which she said was “absolutely unacceptable”. She emphasised the need for sustained diplomatic efforts to end hostilities through an agreement involving all Black Sea countries, while confirming that Bulgaria would work actively through both the EU and NATO. Petrova also highlighted ongoing information-sharing and defence cooperation with NATO allies, particularly Romania, to strengthen maritime security and protect the Black Sea region.
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In an analysis for Mediapool.bg, entitled “The Black Sea: From Sailing-Boat Mode to War Mode”, Nikola Lalov argues that Russia’s war against Ukraine has exposed serious weaknesses in Black Sea security, after years of neglect by NATO and the EU. Attacks on commercial vessels have caused casualties, heightened public concern and threatened shipping, tourism and fishing. Bulgaria is particularly vulnerable due to decades of underinvestment in defence capabilities, inadequate surveillance systems and equipment that remains unusable because of maintenance and funding problems. The article highlights urgent gaps in the Bulgarian Navy’s capabilities, including non-operational Panther helicopters, the absence of a rescue ship and a submarine, and the need for additional patrol vessels, modern radars and effective anti-drone systems. Experts warn that Bulgaria must shift from a peacetime mindset to a wartime approach, prioritising the protection of ports and other critical infrastructure.
The analysis stresses that traditional naval vessels and aircraft alone are insufficient to address the growing threat posed by long-range aerial, surface and underwater drones. Bulgaria needs a layered defence system combining radar surveillance, fighter aircraft, interceptor drones, electronic warfare and other modern technologies, drawing on Ukraine’s battlefield experience. Equally important is stronger regional cooperation with Romania and Turkey, as well as a more coordinated strategy within NATO and the EU. Although the three Black Sea countries have established a joint mine-countermeasures group, broader cooperation and a common security strategy remain inadequate. Bulgaria and Romania are pushing for a dedicated NATO command in the Black Sea region and additional allied military support, while Bulgaria plans to acquire 20 anti-drone systems worth F80 million through the EU’s SAFE financing mechanism. Lalov’s central argument is that rapid investment, improved coordination and a fundamental reassessment of maritime security are essential to protect Bulgaria against an increasingly dangerous regional environment.
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In his analysis for Dnevnik.bg, titled “What Weapons Can Take Down Russian Jet-Powered Drones”, Petar Karaboev examines the growing threat posed by Russia’s increasingly fast and long-range Geran-3, Geran-4 and Geran-5 drones, noting that Romania’s recent interceptions over the Black Sea demonstrate that NATO countries can counter them, although significant challenges remain. Ukraine currently relies heavily on F-16 and other fighter aircraft, which reportedly destroy more than half of the jet-powered drones, but this approach is expensive and difficult to sustain during prolonged attacks. Cheaper alternatives, including interceptor drones, electronic warfare systems and automated anti-aircraft weapons, are under development, but their effectiveness against the fastest models remains limited. Successful interception also depends on advanced radar systems capable of detecting incoming drones at sufficient distances, while shortages of small jet engines constrain production of Ukrainian interceptors. Karaboev warns that Bulgaria, which has requested assistance from NATO and its allies, must urgently strengthen its air-defence capabilities and learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience as Russia expands production of faster drones that increasingly resemble cruise missiles.
Economy
In a front-page interview with 24 Chasa, Georgi Klisurski, Sofia’s Deputy Mayor for Finance and a former caretaker finance minister, discusses the government’s proposed 2027 budget, criticizing its emphasis on increasing tax revenues rather than making substantial cuts to unnecessary public expenditure. While welcoming plans to improve oversight of disability assessments, healthcare spending and public procurement, he argues that more concrete measures are needed to control the budget deficit. Klisurski supports the proposed 30% increase in residential property tax assessments next year, explaining that it would raise annual property tax bills by the same percentage, with the government planning to double assessments over three years. The increase would apply to residential properties, not company-owned properties, and would not affect waste collection fees. Property transaction taxes would remain unchanged for deals conducted at market prices but would rise by 30% when calculated using tax assessments.
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In an interview on Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), Mario Ninov of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour expressed doubts that private railway operator Ivkoni Express would be ready to begin passenger services on December 13, when it is scheduled to take over 25% of Bulgaria’s passenger rail transport. He highlighted unresolved issues involving rolling stock, staff, maintenance facilities, timetables and ticket sales. The number of BDZ Passenger Transport employees expected to transfer to the private operator has reportedly fallen from more than 800 to 580 – despite an existing staff shortage at the state railway company – but many workers are reluctant to move. Ninov stressed that the unions are not opposed to private operators in principle, but insist that transfers must be voluntary and that employees should be offered competitive pay and working conditions. He also questioned whether the process would genuinely increase competition, arguing that the private operator’s participation depends partly on receiving existing assets, rolling stock and personnel, and pointing to continuing uncertainty over ticket and travel-card sales.
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In an interview on Trud, economist Stoyan Panchev criticises the government’s proposed tax changes, arguing that fiscal policy should focus on cutting public expenditure rather than increasing tax revenues. He questions measures such as taxing food vouchers, raising the maximum social security income threshold and introducing a tax on excess profits, warning that additional tax burdens may ultimately be passed on to consumers and workers through higher prices and costs. While acknowledging that some adjustments to property tax valuations and the value of food vouchers are justified by inflation and rising property prices, Panchev argues that taxing these benefits undermines their purpose. He also warns that efforts to combat the shadow economy can fuel inflation and that reducing VAT on fuel, although potentially beneficial, would not necessarily translate into equivalent price cuts for consumers.
Panchev’s main concern is that Bulgaria’s economic model remains dependent on low-cost labour, undermining wage growth and long-term development. He argues that importing workers from non-EU countries to fill low-paid positions contradicts the government’s stated ambition to raise wages and move towards a higher-value economy. According to the economist, employers’ growing reliance on cheaper foreign labour risks freezing wages, reducing the real incomes of Bulgarian workers and preventing the country from moving towards more productive and competitive economic sectors. He also questions the accuracy of official assessments of wage growth and attributes much of Bulgaria’s recent inflationary pressure to eurozone accession, alongside rising fuel prices and broader international economic conditions. Panchev concludes that sustainable economic development requires a reassessment of public spending, taxation and labour-market policies rather than continued reliance on fiscal adjustments and cheap labour.
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A Nova TV report examines “a growing crisis” in Bulgaria’s garment industry, which has contracted by nearly 40% over the past two years. Ruse, once a major centre of the textile industry, has already seen two large garment companies close this year, raising concerns that further closures could follow. According to Miglena Hristova, a member of the Board of the Bulgarian Association of Textile and Leather, rising production costs, particularly for electricity, fuel and transport, combined with labour shortages, have made Bulgarian manufacturers increasingly uncompetitive against companies in Asia, Africa and Turkey. Transport costs are also driven up by the need to bring workers from smaller towns and villages, while recruiting foreign workers has become prohibitively expensive. Hristova warned that factory closures lead to unemployment and criticised the lack of a government support programme for the sector, which is struggling to cope with mounting economic pressure.
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In a story headlined “Build First, Sort Out the Paperwork Later: The Regional Development Ministry Proposes Changes for Infrastructure Projects’ Tolerance”, Capital.bg writes that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works proposes amendments to the Spatial Development Act that would allow certain roads, water mains, electricity networks and other infrastructure built without the required permits to obtain what is called “tolerance certificates”. These make private and public buildings constructed before 2001 without the requisite papers, to be tolerated for the purposes of occupation or real estate transactions. The proposed rules would also allow unfinished projects to be completed under specific conditions. Qualifying structures would be protected from demolition or a ban on use. The changes would apply to specified types of public infrastructure rather than residential buildings or hotels. However, the ministry has not identified the projects concerned or provided figures explaining the need for the reform, raising questions about whether it is intended to address existing irregularities involving major infrastructure projects, potentially including sections of the Hemus motorway and dam repairs. Legal expert Boris Milchev stresses that the proposal does not constitute a blanket amnesty for illegal construction, but warns that its effectiveness will depend heavily on how the administration applies the rules. The article highlights concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the reform’s intended beneficiaries and the uncertainty over which existing infrastructure projects may qualify.
Society
On Bulgarian National Radio, Ilian Vassilev, a former Bulgarian Ambassador to Moscow and one of the organizers of a protest against the foreign and security policy of the government of Rumen Radev on Tuesday evening, said that the protest was prompted by what he described as the government’s inadequate response to growing national security threats linked to Russia’s war against Ukraine. He said Russian attacks had turned the Black Sea into a military zone, directly affecting Bulgaria through increased risks to shipping, higher freight rates and insurance costs. Vassilev criticized the authorities for hesitating to attribute the attacks to Russia and for failing to take concrete measures to reduce the risks, arguing that the government’s actions were disproportionate to the threat. He also pointed to the attack on the Starlink communications facility near Plana and other explosions, saying such threats required a coordinated state response rather than being treated as corporate matters. He argued that Bulgaria lacked the military capabilities to respond adequately to such threats and accused the government of being divided and reluctant to mobilize national resources in a bid to appeace Russia. He said the risks were likely to escalate rather than diminish and questioned whether the government would make full use of NATO’s capacity in the Black Sea to compensate for Bulgaria’s defence shortcomings. Explaining why the protest was organized ahead of the October 25 presidential elections, he said the threats were immediate and that delaying action until after the vote would waste valuable time. While calling for the government’s resignation, he stressed that the more urgent priority was for the authorities to act immediately.
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In another BNR interview, Konstantin Kostov, chair of the Association of Medical Students, announced that young doctors from the Future in Bulgaria initiative are staging another protest to demand long-delayed reforms in the healthcare system. Their demands include better working conditions and pay for medical residents, fairer and more transparent specialisation competitions, updates to framework contracts, and the digitalisation of residents’ training records and related administrative systems. Kostov stressed that discussions with the authorities have made limited progress and that implementation of the digitalisation measures has been delayed. He highlighted significant pay disparities among medical residents, whose monthly salaries can range from EUR 600 to EUR 1,500, and called for a guaranteed minimum salary for all healthcare professionals. Emphasising that the protest is non-political, he urged supporters to gather outside the Ministry of Health at 6 p.m.; unlike previous demonstrations, no march is planned.
In an interview with bTV, young doctors Dr Kalina Bozhilova, a general medicine resident, and Dr Daniel Kiprov, a general practitioner representing the Future in Bulgaria protest movement, criticised the Health Ministry for failing to implement promised reforms despite more than a year of demands. They highlighted a delay of over six months in launching a website to digitize medical specialization applications, entrance exams and training records, arguing that the system would improve transparency, prevent favouritism and ensure that residents receive the required practical training. The doctors also reported no meaningful progress on better working conditions, pay and night-shift arrangements, warning that the lack of reform contributes to the emigration of young Bulgarian doctors. Dr Bozhilova summed up their frustration: “We live in a time of flying cars, artificial intelligence and robots, yet the Health Ministry is struggling to create a website.”
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In an article published by Segabg.com entitled “Opposition to PB: Hands Off the Files Commission!”, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) strongly criticizes a bill proposed by Progressive Bulgaria (PB) to abolish the Commission for Disclosure of Documents and for Announcing Affiliation of Bulgarian Citizens to the State Security and Intelligence Services of the Bulgarian People’s Army (aka Secret Police Files Commission). In its first formal opinion on the draft legislation, the human rights organization calls on the government to withdraw the proposal, which would transfer many of the commission’s powers to the head of the State Archives Agency. The BHC warns that the proposed replacement, a central expert commission whose composition, responsibilities and operating rules would be determined by the archives director, would not provide equivalent guarantees of institutional independence. The draft also fails to require its members to have no previous affiliation with the communist-era security services or to undergo security clearance checks. The BHC argues that abolishing the existing commission would weaken safeguards against arbitrary decisions and political interference, contrary to principles recognized by Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. It also raises concerns that incorporating the relevant archives into the Central State Archives could restrict or complicate access to documents for citizens, journalists and researchers, while creating inconsistencies with existing legislation on access to public information and electronic governance.
Ecumenical Patriarch visits
Telegraph daily runs a cover story on the visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Rila Monastery on Monday and a joint service with Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil. It puts a focus on a protest by a group of believers against what they see as a violation of the church canon: Patriarch Bartholomew mentioned in his prayer Epiphanius, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of (UOC). The UOC was granted autonomy by Patriarch Bartholomew in 2019 but is not recognized by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. According to Telegraph, the protestors chanted “Anaxios!” [Unworthy] and “Anatema!”. Also, there were very few ordinary people – not more than 150 – during the Rila Monastery service of the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the officials and clergy considerably outnumbered them.
24 Chasa has a full-page report on the Rila Monastery service. According to the headline, there were Ukrainians, Russians, Romanians, Greeks and Japanese among the people who attended. The service lasted over 3 hours, the report says. It also says that “thousands attended”.
World
In his analysis for Trud, entitled “The Situational Politician Hristijan Mickoski”, Bulgarian journalist Kostadin Filipov, who spent long years reporting from Skopje for Bulgarian media outlets, argues that North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s increasingly hostile rhetoric towards Bulgaria serves primarily to divert public attention from domestic political issues and his government’s failures. The author identifies three main objectives behind this strategy: minimizing the political impact of the agreement between Sofia and Athens on the transfer of Tsar Samuel’s remains to Bulgaria, portraying Bulgaria as an unreliable NATO ally, and shifting responsibility for North Macedonia’s stalled EU accession process onto Sofia.
Filipov further argues that North Macedonia’s exclusion from the group of EU candidate countries given a clearer pathway towards membership, has increased the pressure on Mickoski to find external scapegoats. By internationalizing bilateral disputes and blaming Bulgaria, the prime minister seeks to deflect criticism of his government’s diplomatic shortcomings and the country’s lack of progress towards European integration. However, the author also acknowledges Bulgaria’s own shortcomings, noting that, after 35 years of North Macedonian independence, Sofia has yet to develop an effective approach to protecting the rights of ethnic Bulgarians in the neighbouring country without triggering diplomatic crises and undermining good-neighbourly relations.
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In a commentary in Trud titled “France Does Indeed Have Problems”, Georgi Vuldzhev argues that France faces two simultaneous challenges: insufficient funding for education and social unrest involving people of non-European origin. He maintains that acknowledging one problem does not require denying the other, and that both must be addressed honestly to understand the risks facing European societies. The author also criticises France’s pension system, arguing that generous retirement benefits for an ageing population place an excessive burden on younger workers and contribute to cuts in education spending. Vuldzhev contends that ordinary French young people and working citizens are caught between the financial pressures of supporting the pension system and the consequences of social unrest and crime. He argues that concerns about cultural integration and criminal behaviour among some migrant communities are often dismissed as unacceptable to discuss, while the costs of maintaining the existing social model fall disproportionately on the working population. His central argument is that a system presented as socially protective has become unfair to younger generations and workers, whose contributions sustain benefits for other groups while their own prospects are increasingly constrained.
The situation in France is also discussed in analyses in Dnevnik.bg. and Nova tv.
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In an interview with Bulgarian National Radio’s Horizont programme, international security expert Ivaylo Ivanov predicts that Russia will intensify its military campaign in an effort to end the war in Ukraine during the coming winter. He argues that Moscow sees the next few months as a crucial opportunity to weaken Ukrainian society and state institutions before potential changes in US policy following the midterm elections. According to Ivanov, Russia’s ultimate objective remains Ukraine’s capitulation and the elimination of its sovereignty, as well as the weakening of Europe’s geopolitical influence. He also warns that drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea could continue because establishing responsibility for such incidents is difficult, while differing positions among European allies and Romania further complicate the response. Finally, Ivanov attributes growing public discontent in Europe partly to declining living standards and resistance to change, arguing that the new geopolitical reality will require difficult and unpopular decisions, including increased defence spending.
Media review: October 20 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-10-20 10:29:52
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BULGARIA NEWS – NEWS AGENCY 2009–2026 2026-10-20 10:29:52
Presidential Candidate Hristanov Calls for Strong, Independent Presidency 2026
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