Bulgaria

Bulgarian Energy Minister

27 Apr 2022 3 3

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“By signing these three memorandums on our very first meeting in Sofia, we give an example of a new approach, we deal with a new energy and bring real results. The end goal of these partnerships is the economic growth of the whole region. A growth that both the citizens of Bulgaria and North Macedonia will feel by having a better standard of living.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

25 Jan 2022 4 1

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“Bulgaria is a sovereign country and we have long made our choice by becoming a member of NATO. As such, we decide alone how to organise the defence of our country in coordination with our partners. The NATO Treaty did not provide for second-category member states for whom collective defense is to be applied selectively or within a limited scope. We call on the Russian Federation to remain engaged in constructive dialogue to de-escalate tension.”

Themoscowtimes

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

21 Jan 2022 2 3

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“That topic has neither been discussed at the Council of Ministers, nor with any of our [NATO] partners. The defense minister has his own personal opinion, which is in no way the formal position of our government.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

22 Dec 2021 3 3

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“We will put discussions with Northern Macedonia on a new basis. The plan is to form fresh working groups between the two countries on issues not only related to history but also to the economy, infrastructure and culture. We will use working groups to seek solutions to issues such as joint economic activity, infrastructure, culture and history.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

14 Dec 2021 1 2

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“No matter whether you are right-wing, leftist, or centrist, Bulgaria needs highways, safe dams, and good incomes.”

Bulgarian politician - Co-leader of the political party 'We Continue the Change'

06 Dec 2021 4 2

Mika Zaykova

Inserted 2 years ago

“There is a noticeable brain-drain. We must find a way to bring part of the Bulgarian diaspora abroad back to the country and think about a major reform of education.”

Bulgarian politician member of the There is Such People party

23 Nov 2021 3 4

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“We guarantee zero corruption.”

Bulgarian politician - Co-leader of the political party 'We Continue the Change'

23 Nov 2021 2 3

Rumen Radev

Inserted 2 years ago

“The status quo tried to come back on a white horse, but failed.”

President of Bulgaria

22 Nov 2021 0 3

Anastas Gerdjikov

Inserted 2 years ago

“The fact that one [candidate] won and the other lost feels irrelevant when 80 per cent of society feels unrepresented.”

Rector of Sofia University and presidential candidate

22 Nov 2021 1 3

Antoniy Todorov

Inserted 2 years ago

“[The vote is] A clash between two visions. One between the soft tolerance of endemic corruption and the firm opposition to a model of governance that uses public power for private purposes.”

New Bulgarian University political science professor

20 Nov 2021 (approx) 3 3

Rumen Radev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Crimea is Russian, what else can it be?”

President of Bulgaria

18 Nov 2021 (approx) 2 3

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“I do not know a more prepared person in Bulgaria than Asen Vasilev for finance minister. The movement [We Continue the Change] is willing to partner with all parties that would join the fight against corruption in the European Union member. We will be the No. 1 political force. We will have a majority of 121 deputies in the 240-seat parliament, and Bulgaria will have a regular coalition cabinet.”

Bulgarian politician - Co-leader of the political party 'We Continue the Change'

15 Nov 2021 2 2

Kiril Petkov

Inserted 2 years ago

“Bulgaria is taking a new path. Left, center, or right, it doesn't matter. If we can stop [corruption] and redistribute money for the well-being of the taxpayers, then we should be able to come to an agreement with several parties.”

Bulgarian politician - Co-leader of the political party 'We Continue the Change'

15 Nov 2021 3 2

Anastas Gerdjikov

Inserted 2 years ago

“I accepted an independent initiative to put forward my candidacy, I think I can be useful with my qualities to represent the unity of the nation. In the last week, I found out that GERB is ready to give their support.”

Rector of Sofia University

01 Oct 2021 2 2

Rumen Radev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Immigrant pressures are on the rise, and that is why the Taliban are regaining control of Afghanistan. The risk for us inevitably increases. We must also work with the EU to make a more serious commitment to Frontex and to draw up an EU operational action plan in the event of increased migratory pressures at the EU's external borders, namely Bulgaria and Greece, and, of course, an ongoing dialogue with Turkey.”

President of Bulgaria

19 Aug 2021 8 2

Venelina Popova

Inserted 2 years ago

“A group of oligarchs, mainly Peevski [Delyan Peevski] established media monopoly. The big media outlets went through different business owners, most of whom have aimed to maintain close relations with those in power in order not to have problems and to receive advertisement money.”

Investigative journalist who worked for the Bulgarian National Radio for 30 years

18 Jun 2021 1 2

Pavol Szalai

Inserted 2 years ago

“Unlike other countries in the EU, like Hungary and Poland, where the situation is bad but they are ranked higher, in Bulgaria we have observed frequent physical attacks against journalists.”

Head of the Balkans Desk at Reporters Without Borders

18 Jun 2021 5 1

Stefan Yanev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Our aim is to create a favorable environment of trust, friendship, and open dialogue that will help our specialists to sit down and find the correct solutions.”

Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister

17 Jun 2021 1 1

Andrey Kovatchev

Inserted 2 years ago

“It is not a problem that Bulgaria has a provisional government, as Zaev believes. The problem is that Skopje did nothing to implement the [2017 friendship] agreement with Bulgaria. On the contrary, it puts efforts and lobbies to undermine Bulgaria's position and [exert] pressure on Sofia. We are not disputing their [North Macedonia's] current identity and language. The agreement speaks of a joint history of the current two peoples, a joint Bulgarian history, not a shared one, not intertwined, but a joint history of one ethnos in the past, which was divided cruelly at the start of the 20th century by unfortunate fate and the big powers.”

Bulgarian politician, Member of the European Parliament

16 Jun 2021 3 3

Svetlan Stoev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Bulgaria has always supported the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans and as a country in the region is clearly aware that the path to the EU is the strongest factor in the transition to democratic governance. Bulgaria has always shown a will for a constructive and pragmatic dialogue with Skopje. We will continue to work for the restoration of trust. We expect legal guarantees for compliance with the 2017 Treaty and a constructive response from Skopje for a long-term solution to the issue.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria

07 Jun 2021 3 3

Svetlan Stoev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Bulgaria continues to be principled in supporting the European integration of the Western Balkan countries while respecting the criteria for the individual achievements of each country and respecting the fundamental values of the union as good neighbourly relations. We expect our closest neighbours in the region to work in a spirit of honesty and constructiveness. I want to emphasize that there is a general agreement on this topic and no change can be expected in the national position of Bulgaria.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria

21 May 2021 2 3

Alexander Simidchiev

Inserted 2 years ago

“At the time it was not necessarily a bad decision [bet heavily on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine]. However, relying predominantly on one vaccine without ordering sufficient amounts of the other ones proved to be the wrong approach in the long term.”

Pulmonologist and a former member of parliament from the opposition Democratic Bulgaria coalition

18 May 2021 3 3

Dominic Raab

Inserted 3 years ago

“The UK stands with Bulgaria against Russia's malign activity which seeks to undermine the sovereignty of our NATO ally. We fully support Bulgaria's efforts in disrupting an alleged spy ring & taking steps to tackle Russia's hostile actions in its territory.”

UK foreign minister

20 Mar 2021 4 3

Ned Price

Inserted 3 years ago

“Bulgaria is a friend, NATO Ally, and partner. We are attentively watching the Bulgarian investigation into an alleged Russian spy ring. The U.S. strongly supports Bulgaria's sovereignty and stands with Bulgarians against these malign activities on their territory.”

Spokesperson for the United States Department of State

20 Mar 2021 4 3

Boyko Borisov

Inserted 3 years ago

“Once again it could be necessary to declare Russian diplomats as unwanted. With yesterday's operation, I appeal again to their leaders to stop spying in Bulgaria. Friendship is friendship, but our Euro-Atlantic partnership is an unavoidable factor.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

20 Mar 2021 2 2

Krasimir Karakachanov

Inserted 3 years ago

“We treat the Republic of North Macedonia as a country where our compatriots live. Their political elite cannot understand exactly what they want and what they do not want. They want to enter the EU in muddy shoes, without apologizing for the killed Bulgarians.”

Bulgaria’s Minister of Defense

05 Feb 2021 1 3

Boyko Borisov

Inserted 3 years ago

“We hope that together with our brothers from North Macedonia, next year we will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Goce Delchev. Today marks 149 years since the birth of Goce Delchev, voivode activist of the revolutionary liberation movement of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, among our most distinguished common historical heroes. I hope we have wisdom next year, along with our friends and brothers from North Macedonia, to celebrate its 150th anniversary, united and together on the path of European integration.”

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

05 Feb 2021 3 3

Nedelcho Totev

Inserted 3 years ago

“We missed the opportunity to prepare for the second wave of the coronavirus during the summer, even though we knew it was coming. We missed our chance to designate COVID-19 hospitals. Instead, now all the hospitals are bursting at the seams with coronavirus patients and we can’t respond to the rising patient load. There is no one to treat the patients ... Hospitals are very short of staff. The current coronavirus crisis made it painfully clear how dire the situation is.”

Head of the city-run hospital in Chirpan, a small town in southern Bulgaria, and chair of the Association of Municipal Hospitals

06 Dec 2020 2 4

Peter Markov

Inserted 3 years ago

“Tougher measures are long overdue. Given the high death rate in Bulgaria, measures should have been introduced weeks earlier. At no instance since March have I seen a clear and continued communication effort to explain the nature of the disease, the importance of risks to people's health and life, and to explain the kind of measures that should be taken on a personal and public level.”

Epidemiologist and lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

06 Dec 2020 2 3

Ekaterina Zakharieva

Inserted 3 years ago

“Bulgaria is saying 'No' to the start of negotiations, we are not saying 'No' to North Macedonia's accession to the EU. No one is disputing their right to self-define their nation and call their language what they like. But we cannot agree that this right will be based on hatred, history theft and denial of Bulgaria.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

16 Nov 2020 3 3

Boyko Borisov

Inserted 3 years ago

“There is a lot of symbolism in the fact that Bulgaria and North Macedonia co-hosted the Summit. This was the first time that an EU member country and a Western Balkans country were hosts together, and this is a proof of our dedication to the development of the region.”

Europeanwesternbalkans

Prime Minister of Bulgaria

10 Nov 2020 5 3

Tsveta Karayancheva

Inserted 3 years ago

“People are protesting, let them protest. These people in the square have the right to express their views peacefully. We hear what is happening in the square, like for example, about the new constitution. What problem will we solve by resigning? People on the street say, 'We want you to resign'. After that what do we do? What does a resignation mean? If we are responsible, we must continue to help the people, the National Assembly must continue to work. We are not afraid of elections and the caretaker government.”

Bulgaria Parliament Speaker

11 Sep 2020 3 1

Rumen Radev

Inserted 3 years ago

“The Bulgarian mafia has achieved the impossible and united honest people against it. It is up to all of us to throw the mafia out of the executive branch, to throw the mafia out of the prosecutors’ office, which the mafia uses in the most ruthless way as its shield and for political repression.”