Sega Daily

"Sega" headlines its analysis "How Lucky for Government That People Don't Think". The majoritarian electoral system is the latest mantra tipped as a solution to the political crisis. If the national parliamentary elections were to go 100 per cent majoritarian, they would turn into just so many local elections. The national vote would be reduced to a competition among local dignitaries, who would blackmail the parties. The writer warns that this would re-enact the state of "developed" feudalism.

"Sega" reports that Maria Mourgina, who resigned as executive director of the National Revenue Agency last week, closed down in early February two key controlling units: the unit which fights corruption and the internal audit unit. She had been in conflict with them since late 2008 when they unravelled a chain of letterbox companies involved in a VAT scam.

"Sega" writes that loans and gambling profits will be declared to the tax authorities if amendments to the Personal Income Tax Act proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Plougchieva's team are adopted. All loans - given or taken (except bank loans) - over 5,000 leva and a total gambling profit in excess of 5,000 leva will have to be declared.

Trud Daily

"Trud" writes that the National Movement for Surge and Stability (NMSS) of the government coalition is afraid it may not win seats in the next parliament, judging from polls which give it 1.8 per cent of popular support. Fearing that unless it wins seats in the European Parliament, its participation in the national elections will be pointless, the Movement has decided to stick to the 2-in-1 formula (same-day national and European Parliament elections). For its part, the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) is afraid it may again fail to complete its term in office. And since the Constitution must be amended if the National Assembly is to dissolve early, given that the only constitutional option now is the government's resignation, the BSP does not want to even consider such an amendment. As to the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), its leader Ahmed Dogan does not care if the national and European Parliament elections are held on the same day - his party's supporters will vote as he bids them. His only concern is that in same-day elections, three votes will take place, including majoritarian voting if introduced, which would be confusing for most voters. It remains to be seen by the end of February if the good will expressed at the latest Coalition Council will materialize in a coalition decision not just about the election date but about majoritarian voting as well. Because the fears of each of the three parties may prevail over their commitment to state matters.

"Trud" writes that student mothers will be entitled to a lump sum of 2,880 leva in the first year after they give birth without a means test. Mothers of twins will be entitled to a one-off allowance of 1,200 leva per child. These proposals will become effective retroactively as of January 1 if the Family Allowances Act is amended as proposed.

"Trud" says that no matter what chance Solomon Passy stands of becoming NATO's secretary general, his nomination is blazing a trail for Bulgaria again. Bulgaria should be able to head NATO some day. The world had better start coming around to this idea.

Standart Daily

In "Standart News", Defence Minister Nikolai Tsonev promises that around six blocks of flats and as many kindergartens will be available to the families of military personnel in Stara Zagora and Kazanluk in May.

"Freeze Interest Rates," runs a headline in "Standart News". Simeon Peshov, President of the Chamber of Construction, says mortgage rates should be frozen for two years to cushion the crisis. If the government approves this move, it will give a breather to construction companies. Another proposal is that banks should not repossess a family's only home if it falls behind with the payments. Peshov predicted a 2,500-million-lev fall in orders in construction from 2008.

24 Chasa Daily

In "24 Chasa", Borissov says GERB and the BSP are and will be the worst rivals. "However, as their leaders, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and I must keep up their human face. I would say 'thank you' to the prime minister for thinking likewise. We showed that when it is about 2 million people, about huge Japanese and Bulgarian businesses, large investments and numerous jobs and about coping with the crisis, we can show tolerance for each other,"  Borissov says, referring to the construction of Sofia's underground railway.

Vesselin Metodiev, deputy floor leader of the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria (DSB), says in a "Troud" interview that the three ruling parties are mulling ways to deal with the crisis, which they earlier said would not hit Bulgaria. The government coalition's worst weaknesses are not just incompetence and corruption, but also an inability to manage the crisis, according to Metodiev. Talking about the right wing, he says the issue is linked with DSB leader Ivan Kostov and "Kostovism", which has driven a wedge into the democratic community. "While we Kostovists want to be consistent, principled and radical, other people are averse to radicalism," Metodiev says.

Interviewed by "24 Chasa", Socialist MP Roumen Petkov says: "Aiming for the 4 per cent threshold for distribution of the seats at the upcoming elections, the NMSS did a disservice to Solomon Passy." NATO is not a partisan cause, it is a Bulgarian cause, Petkov says, adding that "having done our bit, we can now say with wide open eyes that we back the Bulgarian nomination for NATO's top post".

Klasa Daily

Publishing a BBSS Gallup International poll taken in February, "Klassa" writes that approval of local and central government rose in a month: respectively from 39 per cent to 41 per cent, and from 15 per cent to 16 per cent. President Georgi Purvanov has the highest approval rating at 48 per cent. GERB leader Boiko Borissov scored 47 per cent (3 percentage points up from January) and Stanishev scored 25 per cent approval, also 3 points up from a month earlier. The poll commissioned by the daily also shows that if the elections were held today, 24 per cent of respondents would vote for GERB, 21 per cent for the BSP, and the MRF and Ataka would each win between 6 and 8 per cent of the votes. If the DSB and the Union of Democratic Forces quickly agree on an election coalition, their chances of winning seats will grow.

Express Daily

"Express" quotes Solomon Passy as saying that many areas of NATO need reform. Passy, who is the Bulgarian nominee for the Alliance's top position, says NATO is not so popular at the moment as it deserves to be. This is one of the first tasks that the new secretary general should address. Also, NATO should be a much more effective, dynamic and adjustable mechanism if it is to be able to react quickly. 

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