Attacks cause outrage at opening night of Shaw play
A protest against John Malkovich's rendition of George Bernard Shaw's play "Arms and the Man" at Sofia's National Theatre last night quickly degenerated into grotesque violence that showcased the ineptitude of the local authorities.
The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) and the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) issued an open letter to Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov, Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev, and Chief Prosecutor Borislav Sarafov, condemning the "shameful violence" against the cast and the audience.
Despite recognizing the protesters' right to demonstrate, the BHC and AEJ emphasized that Bulgaria's Constitution and international agreements guarantee the right to peaceful assembly only when demonstrations remain non-violent. The organizations argued that the authorities' inaction violates these principles, raising concerns over their failure to quash the mob violence.
Calls were made online for the resignation of the Minister of Internal Affairs' Atanas Ilkov following the incident. Ilkov, however, shifted blame on to the National Theater and defended the MIA's lack of reaction. He claimed they'd only been notified beforehand of a "cultural program" by protest organizers, leading them to provide standard security rather than protest controls. Police presence will now be bolstered to prevent further incidents.
Mondi to close paper plant following fire
Bulgaria may soon lose its largest pulp and paper producer, Mondi Stamboliyski, as Mondi Group announced plans to permanently close the plant after a significant fire in September caused extensive damage, though no injuries were reported.
The closure decision came unexpectedly, especially after Mondi's recent investments in modernizing the facility. Mondi's statement indicated that the costs of repairing the damaged kraft paper machine, with a 100,000-ton annual capacity, and the need for further investments to maintain competitiveness outweighed the benefits of restarting operations. Estimated costs to shut down the plant are about 100 million euro, though insurance evaluations are still pending. While Mondi has not ruled out selling the facility, the group has confirmed that Bulgaria will no longer be part of its manufacturing footprint.
Bulgaria faces fiscal challenges as Budget 2025 debates begin
October typically marks the beginning of state budget discussions for the coming year, although political deadlock has delayed Bulgaria's 2025 budget proposal. This year, signs indicate that, instead of populist spending increases, parliament may need to consider unpopular measures to tighten finances. With a budget deficit already at 2% of GDP (about 4 billion levs) as of October and further spending on pensions and public sector wages slated for January, the outlook for next year appears increasingly strained.
Experts have suggested that maintaining the deficit at or below 3% of GDP will require either cuts to state spending or tax increases. Economists also voiced concerns at a recent Institute for Market Economics event, noting that Bulgaria's fiscal policy has drifted, with deficits now a recurring feature and spending measures often adopted without clear strategic goals.
Attacks cause outrage at opening night of Shaw play
A protest against John Malkovich's rendition of George Bernard Shaw's play "Arms and the Man" at Sofia's National Theatre last night quickly degenerated into grotesque violence that showcased the ineptitude of the local authorities.
