Trud Daily

In a "Trud" interview, social analyst Peter-Emil Mitev analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the decision of the Right-wing Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB) to run together in this year's elections for national parliament and European Parliament ("UDF's Move Loses at This Stage"). "An advantage is the opportunity for representation in the European and in the national parliament, for future concerted action and possible participation in a Right-wing government. The disadvantage is moral damage. For DSB it is an admission that the motives for splitting [from UDF] have been ungrounded, that UDF is not a dead body and that without it DSB remains a spirit without flesh. For UDF, a traumatizing re-union is added to a traumatizing split. The problem is not the coalition itself but the manner in which it is done: based on a financial account and without giving a public account or having a debate to involve the supporters," Mitev says.

"Trud" carries a story entitled "Borissov: I Am Not behind the Police Protest". It quotes police union chief Ivan Pavlov as saying that the union is considering a blood donation campaign but the purpose is not to thwart the security during the elections. He thus dinies information that policemen are planning to go donating blood en masse on the election day and leave the polling stations unguarded by taking the two-day leave that blood donors are entitled to. Interior Minister Mihail Mikov is quoted saying on the matter that "the leadership of the newly founded and still unregistered police trade union has started to act provocatively". Sofia Mayor Boiko Borissov, who is a former chief secretary (professional leader) of the Interior Ministry, denied politicizing the actions of the disgruntled police force. "I am not behind this protest and the unions have not sought my support. I want to tell this to Mikov as a general to a government minister," Borissov reportedly said. 

"Trud" writes that the political parties will be able to purchase the buildings which now seat their HQs. An amendment to this effect was passed in principle to the State Property Act on Thursday and if it goes through onclusively, the parliamentary parties will be able to buy the property which they now use. They will only be required to have at least 10 MPs or at least one MEP. 

"Trud" reports that Deputy Prosecutor General Valeri Purvanov has requested all documents and the results from a check into the estates of MRF leaderAhmed Dogan by the National Revenue Agency ("Prosecutors Take Up Dogan's Estates"). That emerged on Thursday at a meeting of theparliamentary anti-corruption committee. The tax people have not yet send all information on Dogan's six estates: they are due to complete the probe in a matter of days, the story says. 

"Trud" reports about an order by Economy and Energy Minister Peter Dimitrov whereby the price of central heating in Sofia in the first quarter of 2009 will be the same as it was on December 31, 2008 ("Sofia Heating Prices Frozen"). In the words of Minister Dimitrov, his order will undo the latest increase of 19per cent in the price of central heating in the capital city. The higher bills for January will be offset by lower bills in February or March.

Dnevnik Daily

"Dnevnik" has a commentary entitled "Right-wing Union, Not Just Another Broad-based Coalition", in which social analyst Antonii Gulubov says that the hard decision of UDF to go into a political union with DSB and the other Right-wing forces should not be seen as a new Right alliance. "What we have is a prospect for building a sustained union of parties which have proven their independence over the years. Nobody stands to gain from having them efaced or from resurrecting the overcoming-the-rift-in-the-Right myth," he says. In Gulubov's view, the UDF-DSB alliance is capable of generating the necessary political energy and providing guarantees for establishment of a European-style Right wing in Bulgaria's political spectrum.  

Sega Daily

"Sega" reports the latest survey by the MBMD agency which looked into the response the UDF-DSB union draws from the supporters ("MBMD Gives the Young in the Right Wind the Whip Hand over the Old"). The story quotes MBMD's Mira Radeva as saying that the UDF-DSB axis does not inspire much confidence. New political aspirants are cropping up, including Law, Order and Justice party of MP Yane Yanev and Maria Cappone's United People's Party. A united Right wing would have greater chances without the old guard, according to 64 per cent of respondents. Four parties are sure to clear the 4 per cent barrier to parliamentary representation: GERB with 26.6 per cent, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) with 16.3 per cent, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) with 8.1 per cent and Ataka with 7.1 per cent, the story says. 

"For the first time the National Revenue Agency (NRA) publicly admited that it will be unable to collect all receivables in the public purse this year,' "Sega" writes ("Tax Authorities Warn of Possible Budget Collapse"). It quotes NRA chief Krassimir Stefanov as saying on Thursday during a hearing at the parliamentary budget committee that the revenue side of the budget is in jeopardy unles urgent measures are taken. It emerged from his remarks at the hearing that the question is not whether there will be a shortfall in  the tax revenue but how much it will be. Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski is quoted saying that things still looked good in January and February and the revenue target was 108% fulfilled but a factor analysis showed that bad signs should be expected in the coming months. 

"Sega" writes that Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has proposed "a true invasion of Bulgaria by foreign experts". They would be expected to come here to see the problems and the efforts of the government in fighting crime and corruption. The government discussed behind closed doors on Thursday an additional purse for such visits by EU experts, according to the story.

24 Chasa Daily

"24 Chasa" reports the government's decision to ask President Georgi Purvanov to take to Strasbourg and Kehl for the NATO Summit the chairman of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, Solomon Passy, who is bidding for the office of NATO Secretary General. Passy was not on the initial list of the presidential delegation to the NATO forum, the paper says. At the government meeting Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Daniel Vulchev suggested it was a good idea to have Passy in Strasbourg/Kehl and Foreign Minister Kalfin agreed to ask the President to take him along. The presidential delegation to the NATO Summit includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, among other officials.

"24 Chasa" carries a story by EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kouneva entitled "Brussels Is Doing an Electricity Bill Template: Clear and Simple". She says that consumers' biggest grievances have to do with electricity supply. "This is why we created, at the European level, a working group to prepare a Europe-wide electricity bill template. The electricity bill is the simplest and most efficient way to know how much energy we consume. The bill should be simple and precise, and to allow comparison with other suppliers. The bill template will be ready in July. Power suppliers will not be required to use it but it will provide a tool for strong pressure by the consumers in each country, including Bulgaria," Kouneva says.  

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