Outgoing PM Zhelyazkov Comments on Domestic, European Agenda Issues 2026

Balgarianovinite.com Attending the informal meeting of EU leaders at Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov spoke to Bulgarian journalists about issues from the domestic and European agenda.
EU competitiveness
The Bulgarian PM said that the main issue concerning every European citizen was the cost of living. He explained that the cost of living in Europe was currently high because Europe had lost its competitiveness compared to the United States and China, and that efforts were underway to find the best solution acceptable to all EU member states. He added that competitiveness was now influenced primarily by energy prices, which were much higher than those of Europe’s main global competitors.
Caretaker government in Bulgaria
Responding to a question about the future caretaker government, Zhelyazkov said that the President faced a difficult choice due to the limited pool of potential candidates for caretaker prime minister. He said that, according to the previously set criteria, the candidate had to meet at least two conditions: to be able to organize fair and transparent elections, which required equal distance from all political actors, and to have the necessary administrative experience. He also described Andrey Gurov as a polite and well-educated colleague whom he had known from three parliaments in which Gurov had served as floor leader of the Continue the Change parliamentary group.
Board of Peace
Asked about the Board of Peace established by US President Donald Trump, Zhelyazkov said that everything had already been clarified through the government’s position and the publication of its decision. He added that all political decisions on the matter would be taken by the next regular government and the next National Assembly.
Interior Ministry and the Petrohan case
Zhelyazkov said that it was important first to gather evidence on all relevant facts and only then to make legal assessments, determine responsibility and decide on punishment. He stressed that society wanted quick answers and justice, but noted that institutions should be allowed to work calmly, as constant pressure could lead to mistakes being made in the pursuit of rapid conclusions.
He said he could not answer whether any of the victims had been linked to the State Agency for National Security. He added that, from a political standpoint, it was inappropriate to interfere in or comment on the investigation and its progress. According to him, politicians had already done what they could, as repeated claims, insinuations and speculation were being made several times a day, driven by political confrontation during the election campaign. He argued that this could neither help establish the objective truth nor speed up expert examinations.
Zhelyazkov also said that a new interior minister would be appointed within a week and expressed the view that law enforcement and judicial authorities should not be influenced by political changes in leadership from one week to the next, even when political disagreements existed. Outgoing PM Zhelyazkov Comments on Domestic, European Agenda Issues 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-12 19:29:42 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