Tuesday remains hot - in politics and in terms of the mercury level. But, first of all, let's turn our attention to the latest Covid-19 data. As the number of infections has risen in Sofia, recording more than 500 new cases on a weekly basis, the local health inspectorate mulled introducing restrictions in the city's public spaces from Wednesday.
The number of users of sporting facilities and clients of restaurants and bars would have been cut to 30 percent from the current 50 percent, as described in the Covid-19 response plan of the caretaker government. A few hours later, however, the Health Ministry said these measures will not be introduced, as the plan requires an increase of cases over a two-week period for new restrictions to be introduced. In short - restrictions in the capital are postponed, at least for the week to come.
TISP leader says party withdraws gov't nomination after allies withhold support
In a short Facebook video There is such a people (TISP) leader Slavi Trifonov announced his party will no longer propose a vote on its own cabinet, headed by Prime Minister-nominee Plamen Nikolov on Wednesday. Later Mr Nikolov said he is withdrawing his nomination for Prime Minister and he and his cabinet will not be put to vote by the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The announcement came hours after Democratic Bulgaria said it would not back Mr Nikolov's proposed government, joining Stand up BG and BSP, which had also been expected to support it. Mr Trifonov also threw his support behind President Rumen Radev in the upcoming Presidential elections, but not his caretaker government, which BSP and Stand up BG want to continue working with during the mandate of the current Parliament.
Employers' organizations call for Energy Ministry, subsidiaries' resignations
The President of the Association of the Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (ACIB) Vasil Velev announced that his organization, as well as the rest of the Association of Organizations of the Bulgarian Employers (AOBE) are seeking the resignations of the Minister of Energy in the caretaker government, as well as the heads of all state energy regulators. The reasons cited for the demand are the "incompetence" of the management of the ministry, the Bulgarian Energy Holding, the Energy System Operator (ESO) and of Maritza East -2 power plant - which they characterize as bordering on "malicious intent." The complaints of the employers' organizations follow a spike in electricity prices from last week that led to factories stopping production.
Industrial production down for third consecutive month
For the third consecutive month the National Statistics Institute measured an industrial production decrease - by 0.1 percent in June compared to May, due to the slowdown in the energy and manufacturing sectors. A month earlier, the decline was 1.4 percent.
Unsurprisingly, the indicators show an increase on an annual basis, but this is mainly due to the low threshold from last year. Construction recuperates slowly, while retail trade turnover increases by 1.5 percent on a monthly basis.
Tuesday remains hot - in politics and in terms of the mercury level. But, first of all, let's turn our attention to the latest Covid-19 data. As the number of infections has risen in Sofia, recording more than 500 new cases on a weekly basis, the local health inspectorate mulled introducing restrictions in the city's public spaces from Wednesday.
The number of users of sporting facilities and clients of restaurants and bars would have been cut to 30 percent from the current 50 percent, as described in the Covid-19 response plan of the caretaker government. A few hours later, however, the Health Ministry said these measures will not be introduced, as the plan requires an increase of cases over a two-week period for new restrictions to be introduced. In short - restrictions in the capital are postponed, at least for the week to come.
