Latest News from Bulgaria

Spain to Hold Early Election in June amid Political Deadlock

Spanish King Felipe VI has announced no new candidate will be put forward as Prime Minister, paving the way for early elections.

Parliament will be dissolved on May 03, and a snap vote will be held on June 26, local media report.

The legislature's lower house would not provide enough support for any new Prime Minister candidate, the King believes.

Refugees find new route for entry into Europe via Bulgaria

Following tighter controls in the Aegean Sea by the combined efforts of patrol ships from NATO, Greece and Turkey after the activation of the EU-Turkey refugee agreement, refugees are choosing a different route to reach central Europe. The refugees and migrants have chosen an alternative route via Bulgaria to move towards the continent, despite greater dangers.

Bulgaria MPs Pass Amended Rules on Clearing of Electoral Rolls

Bulgarian lawmakers changed late on Tuesday an earlier proposal under which voters who did not take part in an election would be deleted from electoral rolls.

The new amendments, adopted in a second reading, stipulate that a voter will be "deregistered" if they do not cast a ballot in two consecutive elections of the same kind (be they general or presidential).

Bulgarian Police Detain 22 Afghan Migrants near Border with Greece

Police have detained 22 irregular migrants from Afghanistan in a van following a pursuit near Zlatograd crossing on Bulgaria's border with Greece, public broadcaster BNR reported on Tuesday.

The driver has also been arrested.

The migrants - five men, five women and 12 children - were discovered in the back of the van after police made the vehicle pull over.

Bulgarian Parliament Leaves Unchanged Election Campaign Period

Bulgaria's Parliament has rejected a proposed cut in the duration of election campaigns to 21 days from 30 after the draft change to election rules stirred protests from voters and opposition politicians.

The proposal was made last week by the Legal Affairs Committee in Parliament as part of changes to the Electoral Code.  

Bulgaria's End-February Gross Foreign Debt Falls 0.7% from End-2015

Bulgaria's gross foreign debt totalled EUR 33.87 B at end-February, equivalent to 73.1% of the projected 2016 GDP, the central bank reported on Tuesday.

The debt figure, which is preliminary, was 0.7% lower compared with end-2015, the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) said in a monthly debt report.

Bulgaria's Employment Rate Increased by 2 % Y/Y in 2015 - Eurostat

The employment rate of Bulgarians aged 20 to 64 increased by 2 % in 2015 compared to the previous year.

This is revealed by the latest figures of Eurostat released on Tuesday.

In 2014, the employment rate in Bulgaria stood at 65.1 %, while last year it reached 67.1 %.

As in previous years, employment rate continued to be higher among men (70.4 %) than women (63.8 %).

Bulgaria Coalition Partners Agree to Reverse Some Changes to Election Rules

The leader of parties that form Bulgaria's government have backtracked on a set of amendments introduced to electoral legislation in the past days.

Their decision has been announced after a meeting with Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov in Parliament, hours before the beginning of a final vote on the Electoral Code.

Miners Stage Blockade Near Bulgaria's Burgas over Lack of Payment

Workers at closed Cherno More mine, in the region of Burgas, blocked on Tuesday morning the road between Burgas and the resort of Slanchev Bryag (Sunny Beach) to protest against the delay in payment of wages and compensations.

Work at the mine ended earlier in April, leaving its workforce of nearly 300 people without jobs and with unpaid salaries for March.

Kavarna Rock Fest 2016: First 3 Bands Confirmed

Avantasia (Germany), Myrath (Tunisia-France), and Therion (Sweden) have been the three groups to confirm they will be part of this year's Kavarna Rock festival on July 01-03.

The annual rock & metal festival in the seaside town of Kavarna will take place despite fears Kavarna's new administration was considering an end to a decade-old tradition.

Bulgaria, Croatia to Boost Regional, Transborder Defence Cooperation

During their meeting on Monday, Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev and his Croatian counterpart Josip Buljevic agreed to consolidate the regional and transborder cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was part of Nenchev's two-day official visit to Croatia which is continuing on Tuesday.

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