Balgarianovinite.com Continue the Change (CC) leader Asen Vassilev opposed an idea for the Bulgarian Energy Holding to acquire Lukoil’s Bulgarian assets, speaking to journalists after a meeting of the party’s National Council.
Earlier on Saturday, in a televised interview, BSP floor leader Dragomir Stoynev said that the best possible scenario is for the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) to acquire Lukoil. He also said that when drafting the legislative amendments in relation to a special administrator for the company, a possibility that BEH could purchase the refinery was also considered.
“The people who bankrupted Bulgartabac, gave us the State Oil Company, which, after spending tens of millions, did nothing and was shut down. They gave us the so-called ‘people’s stores’, and we’re still waiting to see even one open. Now they want to exercise their managerial skills on the largest refinery in the Balkans, with gasoline and diesel supplies at the stations, and even fuel for airplanes, depending on them. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Vassilev expressed skepticism that the refinery’s assets could realistically be valued at USD2-3 billion USD.
“When you’re acquiring an asset of such scale, an international one, you work with some of the world’s largest investment banks. Huge teams are involved, usually spending around 12 months conducting a full assessment of the assets, reserves, market readiness, and everything else, and only then do they decide on the price and method of acquisition. This is not like buying a pair of shoes.”
Regarding Lukoil, Vassilev commented on Friday’s parliamentary decision, saying it expanded the powers of the special administrator, allowing them to sell the refinery not to the Bulgarian state, but “to whomever they want, at whatever price they want.”
According to Vassilev, this opens the door to potential international arbitration claims. “It’s no coincidence that in Germany, where a special administrator was appointed back in 2022, ownership has still not been taken away,” he said.
Vassilev concluded that any law derogating private property rights in Bulgaria must be referred to the Constitutional Court, adding that “a constitutional appeal against this law will definitely be filed.”
Vassilev also insisted that the government should revise the draft budget for next year and submit it to the National Assembly.
“The draft budget for next year has not been submitted yet,” said Vassilev, adding that the topic is being overshadowed by discussions surrounding Lukoil. “The reason we don’t have a budget is that this budget simply doesn’t work – it takes from the pockets of Bulgarian citizens and businesses just to fill the piggy banks of Peevski and protect his enforcers,” Vassilev said. He described the situation as “absolutely outrageous,” citing the planned salary increases in the Anti-Corruption Commission, where wages are expected to rise by over 100% in a year.
“It’s high time for the mandate holder to step into their role, rather than stand on the sidelines,” Vassilev said. He added that GERB must decide “whether they will behave like a right-wing party and refuse to allow tax increases.”
Earlier, Continue the Change announced that the party’s National Council had elected Nikolay Denkov as deputy chairman. The council also adopted ethical guidelines for party members. CC Leader Vassilev Opposes Possible Acquisition of Lukoil by Bulgarian Energy Holding 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-11-08 18:00:00 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 hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv 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