Borissov does not insist on being PM
GERB leader Boyko Borissov has indicated he does not insist on becoming prime minister, but does insist on GERB nominating the parliamentary speaker. He did suggest, however, the role could be negotiable if a coalition government is guaranteed.
Borissov addressed his message specifically to the second-largest coalition, We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), which previously called for a "cordon sanitaire" around certain parliamentary groups and proposed reforms, including an independent prime minister as a precondition for coalition talks.
Borissov hinted that the speaker's election will determine whether GERB will initiate coalition consultations and emphasized the need for respecting the election results. He remains unwilling to engage with MRF due to constitutional concerns, despite ongoing debates around isolating members linked to corruption allegations.
After the peak, comes the fall
Following record profits fueled by European Central Bank (ECB) rate hikes, Bulgarian banks are now experiencing a shift as the ECB begins to ease its monetary policy.
As of September, bank profits remain slightly above last year's level, reaching 2.72 billion levs, but growth has slowed to just 0.5% year-on-year. Profitability metrics are starting to decline, with return on assets (ROA) down to 1.94% from over 2% and return on equity (ROE) dropping from 18.2% to 16.4%. Though banks continue to benefit from net interest income growth, narrowing margins and rising costs signal that the peak period has likely passed.
Nuclear's back on the menu
A significant step was taken toward Bulgaria's new nuclear power project as the state-owned Kozloduy NPP New Builds signed an engineering contract with the Westinghouse-Hyundai consortium for the preliminary design of Units 7 and 8.
The deal, signed in the presence of interim Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, is estimated at approximately 350-370 million dollars, although exact terms are confidential. The initial phase includes financial modeling to assess the future cost of electricity production, with results expected by Q4 2025. The full project, valued between 14 to 16 billion dollars, aims to have the first reactor operational by 2034, with state-backed financial guarantees likely needed for feasibility.
Borissov does not insist on being PM
GERB leader Boyko Borissov has indicated he does not insist on becoming prime minister, but does insist on GERB nominating the parliamentary speaker. He did suggest, however, the role could be negotiable if a coalition government is guaranteed.
