The day in 3 news: Bulgaria plummets in democracy ranking, COVID rises again, New directors in State energy

Bulgaria's only operating Nuclear power plant in Kozloduy will be one of the state energy companies getting new management

The day in 3 news: Bulgaria plummets in democracy ranking, COVID rises again, New directors in State energy

Bulgaria's only operating Nuclear power plant in Kozloduy will be one of the state energy companies getting new management

© Aneliya Nikolova


Bulgaria's cycle of a "new scandal every three days" entered its third-day phase today, with the government formally blaming the mismanagement of EU-money for border patrol SUVs on Presidential adviser and ex-Interior Minister Plamen Uzunov. On Monday, EU's anti-fraud agency OLAF announced that Sofia had breached the terms of the migration management fund and pro-government media pointed to Mr. Uzunov (who refuted the claim). Today, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov himself blamed the 2017 caretaker government - and, not very overtly, President Rumen Radev who appointed it. The mishap can cost Bulgarian taxpayers 6 million euro. In addition, Mr. Borissov blamed the caretaker government for allowing "100 truckloads of contraband cigarettes" to enter the country during their first month in power.

Bulgaria's democratic tumble: Economist Intelligence Unit

"Global democracy has a very bad year," The Economist notes in its Intelligence Unit's yearly Democratic Index. Bulgaria, unfortunately, highlights that trend. After a decade of stagnation, the country's score has fallen in its 2020 ranking and now the country is considered part of the "Flawed Democracies'" club due to problems in its media environment and judiciary. The country's score (52nd in the world) is between Surinam and India, but is not the worst in the EU, as Hungary (55th), Croatia (59th) and Romania (62) rank below it.

While Sofia scores quite high in terms of electoral process (9,17 out of 10), the scores for how the government functions (5,71) and for political culture (4,38) drag it down. Political freedom score (7,06) and political participation (7,22) are relatively high for the region, likely due to the anti-government protests of last summer.

One third of Bulgarian regions revert to "red" COVID zone

Following a decrease in COVID-19 infections and deaths throughout January, in the past week eight out of the 28 administrative regions of Bulgaria reverted to the "red" zone. That means over 120 new infections per 100,000 population recorded in the past fortnight, according to the weekly analysis of the National Crisis Staff for the pandemic released on Wednesday. Consequently, hospitals have already started filling up again, Sofia Health Inspectorate Dancho Penchev said in an interview for bTV. He added that if infection rates reach 600 people per 100,000 population, anti-pandemic rules would be tightened again.

Government expedites state energy companies appointments

The Bulgarian government plans to appoint new directors to the managing boards of several of its largest energy companies before the end of its mandate. Kozloduy Nuclear power plant, Bulgartransgaz and Bulgargaz gas transport and distribution companies, the National Electrical Company, Maritza-East coal mining company, TPP Maritza-East 2 and the Electricity System Operator will get new board members each. The Bulgarian Energy Holding, which is the umbrella company of all the above mentioned state firms, will also get new board members. While the state has announced competitions for the positions, traditionally these political appointments are made just before the lapse of an outgoing government's term to ensure that the next government will find it hard to remove them.

Bulgaria's cycle of a "new scandal every three days" entered its third-day phase today, with the government formally blaming the mismanagement of EU-money for border patrol SUVs on Presidential adviser and ex-Interior Minister Plamen Uzunov. On Monday, EU's anti-fraud agency OLAF announced that Sofia had breached the terms of the migration management fund and pro-government media pointed to Mr. Uzunov (who refuted the claim). Today, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov himself blamed the 2017 caretaker government - and, not very overtly, President Rumen Radev who appointed it. The mishap can cost Bulgarian taxpayers 6 million euro. In addition, Mr. Borissov blamed the caretaker government for allowing "100 truckloads of contraband cigarettes" to enter the country during their first month in power.

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