Search
22 results

The history of a veto: How Bulgaria’s stance on Skopje evolved
Sofia has hardened its position vis-a-vis Skopje quietly, but consistently in the past three years, practically sabotaging Western Balkan EU integration

The real influence of Russia in Bulgaria, part 2: The real players
In the second article of a two-part series, KInsights explores how Putin’s war in Ukraine exposed that Bulgarian politics remains hostage to a powerful pro-Kremlin network holding key positions in the state

Is the coalition going to survive? Six obstacles ahead
The four-party coalition wants to bury the rising number of contentious topics confronting it - but this can only work for a while

Between a rock and a hard place: Bulgaria and the Ukraine crisis
Stuck in the middle of its allegiance to the Euroatlantic Alliance and its volatile domestic politics, Sofia is choosing to keep a low profile amidst rising NATO-Kremlin tensions

Transport companies Top 20: coronavirus weighs heavily
Transport is among the top 3 sectors of Bulgaria’s economy affected by Covid-19, with the aviation sector suffering the most

The Week: A shipwreck of a state, record low interest rates and how to find friends in Bulgaria
COVID-19 mortality is still very high, a 30% rise in gas prices

Bulgaria enters new Covid wave with no restrictions, few vaccinations and rising deaths
The caretaker government is reluctant to implement its own anti-pandemic plan, fearing a backlash from business and the public

Silence of the masters
The refusal of those in power to talk to the media risks further eroding what little public trust both still enjoy

Covid-19: Stumbling back into crisis
The government’s decision to reopen schools and restaurants too soon may cause an avoidable repetition of the November-December pandemic disaster

Nuclear? Not clear. What’s next for Bulgaria’s atomic energy
The future of the Kozloduy and Belene Nuclear Power Plants remains uncertain as Sofia lacks a coherent development strategy for its energy sector

Postponing the Fall
How long will the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov dodge resigning after three months of protests and what comes next?

Economic growth slips
Bulgaria’s economic growth slows to six-year low of 2.4% in the first quarter of 2020. Timid signs of recovery can already be seen but it is still too early for optimism

The gambling war
The attack on gambling tycoon Vasil Bozhkov is yet another example of how politics and business in Bulgaria are intertwined

Bulgaria in toll hell
Burdened by a lack of foresight and competence, the government failed to live up to its promises when introducing a road toll system

Bulgaria briefly enters EU’s political gameplay
Even though three Bulgarians were considered for four of the five top positions in the EU institutions, in the end Sofia got a second-tier spot in the European Commission.


Boyko Borissov is stirred; but not yet shаken
Expectations that the May 2019 European Parliament elections would trigger a dramatic crisis of confidence in Bulgaria’s ruling GERB party following the real estate scandal did not materialize

With its head buried in the coal
Bulgaria is the only EU Member State with a significant coal sector that hasn’t begun restructuring

Expect no fair play here
Bulgaria’s political establishment has demonstrated yet again that no business can be run in Bulgaria without their blessing