Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) celebrated the achievements of top-performing investment intermediaries, banks, and public companies at a ceremony held at the Grand Hotel Sofia.

Mariya Chukarska, a tenth-grade interior design student at the Elisaveta Vazova Vocational School of Design, has won first place in the 16-18 age category of the European scientific art project "Unfold Your World – Proteins," the Sofia City Regional Education Department announced.

The Budget and Finance Committee of the National Assembly is set to review on Tuesday the second reading of a draft law governing revenue collection and expenditure execution for 2025.

The 162nd birth anniversary of renowned writer Aleko Konstantinov was celebrated in Svishtov with a series of events, culminating in the awarding of the Aleko International Short Story Competition prize and a charity concert featuring Hilda Kazasyan and the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Energocom company has forecasted an energy deficit of 484 MW for January 14, between 16:00 and 19:00, due to increased consumption and capacity limits on the Isaccea-Vulcanesti high-tension power line.

A recent Gallup International Balkan survey suggests that if elections were held next Sunday, eight parties would secure seats in Bulgaria’s National Assembly.

The National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) has approved a proposal to mandate the BSP-United Left parliamentary group to sign a governance agreement with GERB-UDF and There Is Such a People (TISP).

National Statistical Institute (NSI) President Assoc. Prof. Atanas Atanasov expects inflation in Bulgaria to rise due to increased bread and electricity prices, he told BTA.

The Planetarium in Smolyan has launched an exhibition titled The Colours of the Universe, showcasing original space photography by Mihail Mamchurov, an amateur astronomer and astrophotographer from Varna.

On Friday, Prof. Robert Schlögl, President of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, was awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa by Sofia University.

A 47-year-old man was arrested in Sveti Vlas during a joint operation by Nessebar police and Burgas forensic experts, the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry reported.

Democratic Bulgaria (DB) is not currently engaged in any negotiations or behind-the-scenes discussions, MP Bozhidar Bozhanov stated on Friday.

The Bulgarian Energy Ministry has introduced legislative revisions aimed at reducing power outages during winter caused by severe weather conditions. Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov announced the initiative during a meeting with the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, following widespread outages in late 2024.

Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev addressed the National Assembly on Thursday, emphasizing that resolving the issue of two registered Orthodox churches in Bulgaria falls under the Assembly's jurisdiction.

Lawmakers passed three judicial reform bills in a first reading on Wednesday. Two of the bills, proposed by Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) and There Is Such a People (TISP), received unanimous support, while Vazrazhdane’s bill passed with 193 votes in favor and 28 against.

The exhibition "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece" at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles remains secure despite fires in the area, according to Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture.

The GERB-UDF coalition announced that its Executive Committee has instructed the party’s negotiation team to continue discussions with BSP-United Left and There Is Such a People (TISP) to establish a regular government.

The Budget and Finance Committee of Bulgaria's 51st National Assembly unanimously approved a draft law on Tuesday to address the public finance gap until the passage of the three main budget laws for 2025.

The Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance has rejected proposed amendments to the VAT Act, submitted by BSP - United Left Co-Floor Leader Atanas Zapryanov and other MPs, which aimed to maintain a 0% VAT rate on bread and flour until the end of 2025. The proposal garnered 9 votes in favor, with no opposition but 11 abstentions.

Rosen Zhelyazkov, MP from GERB-UDF, addressed reporters Tuesday regarding ongoing government formation talks, stating, "We will continue in plenary because today we have a lot of work to do."

An exhibition featuring the finest metal artworks created by students of the National Academy of Art (NAA) over the past eight years has opened at Sofia's Academia Gallery.

President Rumen Radev called on political parties to prioritize the nation's stability over partisan interests as Bulgaria faces challenges in forming a government.

The caretaker government of Bulgaria has announced plans to review contracts with electricity distribution companies, enhance control over them, and assess the national electricity transmission system.

No agreement was reached on the composition of a future government or the name of a prime minister candidate during Sunday’s negotiations between GERB-UDF, Democratic Bulgaria (DB), BSP-United Left, and There Is Such a People (TISP) in the National Assembly, according to a GERB-UDF press release.