Bulgaria's Borissov Calls for Suspension of Media Grants Amid Budget Controversy
-
Loading... - Marc Blaise
- 06 Feb 2025
- 146 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Bulgarian politician Boyko Borissov, leader of the GERB party, has intensified his criticism of media outlets receiving grants, calling for the suspension of such funding. His comments come in response to media reports suggesting an excess in the 2025 budget, contrary to the deficit previously mentioned by Borissov and his party members.
During a discussion about media financial support, Borissov emphasized that the grants given to certain media outlets far surpassed the funding allocated to political parties. He questioned whose interests were being served and expressed his belief that these grants should be halted.
Borissov also highlighted what he saw as an issue with media outlets receiving larger salaries than government ministers. He claimed to have been informed by journalists, including former bTV news chief Anton Hekimyan, now a GERB councilor in Sofia, that these media outlets received higher salaries than ministers.
At the same time, Borissov continued to argue that there was indeed a hole in the draft budget for 2025, despite some claims of excess. He referenced his extensive experience with budgeting, having contributed to the creation of nearly 20 budgets, including Sofia's.
Borissov's criticism also extended to Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, who faced scrutiny after a report revealed discrepancies in the January budget forecast. However, Borissov minimized the significance of the error, referring to it as a "small mistake" and suggested it was the reason for the departure of Deputy Minister Lyudmila Petkova.
In addition to media-related matters, Borissov commented on recent appointments in the Zhelyazkov cabinet, stating that all decisions had been agreed upon with coalition partners. He explained that the prime minister had decided to move forward with appointments before the budget approval process was completed.
Regarding the country's budget numbers, Borissov questioned the figures presented by Finance Minister Petkova and rejected the claims made by Asen Vassilev, pointing out that he was not convinced by the official explanations.
Borissov also defended his own role in the financial matters, mentioning how GERB had secured funding for military equipment from Denmark and other sources. When asked about the distribution of seats in regulators, he clarified that GERB, BSP, and TISP would bear the responsibility, given the majority held by their coalition, and that no external party support was needed for this.
Overall, Borissov's comments reflect his ongoing concerns about the media and the budget, as well as his efforts to shape the narrative around these issues.
