Radev challenges Parliament
President Rumen Radev has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the Bulgarian Parliament is obligated to consider his proposal for a national referendum on adopting the euro in 2026.
The move follows the Parliament Speaker's decision to dismiss the proposal without debate, citing constitutional concerns. Radev argues that such a dismissal violates the Constitution, as Parliament must formally vote on proposals from constitutional bodies and cannot reject them outright. He believes this action undermines citizens' right to direct participation in governance.
The referendum question concerns whether Bulgaria should adopt the euro starting January 1, 2026. However, most major political parties oppose the initiative, calling it too late and potentially unconstitutional, since Bulgaria already committed to joining the eurozone upon meeting the necessary criteria.
Road marking scandal
Anton Taskov, co-owner of road marking construction company Bitulight, has told the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) that he faced increasing demands for kickbacks to secure public contracts. When he refused, he encountered administrative obstacles.
Road marking in Bulgaria is a highly profitable business requiring minimal expertise or investment, but success depends on connections with the Road Infrastructure Agency (API).
The ACF investigation alleges that public funds were diverted through a shell company to pay bribes to high-level officials. Taskov's company has won several large contracts since 2014, with a 2019 tender alone worth 63 million levs.
Billa opens new warehouse
Billa Bulgaria has invested 60 million levs in a new logistics center near Zagore village, Stara Zagora. Spanning 15,500 sq.m. on a 60,000 sq.m. plot, the facility includes dry and cold storage, 53 ramps, and space for 5,800 pallets. It can handle 14.4 million boxes annually for stores in Central and Southern Bulgaria. The site also includes staff amenities, beehives, and birdhouses, and creates around 200 new jobs.
Radev challenges Parliament
President Rumen Radev has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether the Bulgarian Parliament is obligated to consider his proposal for a national referendum on adopting the euro in 2026.
