Gerb

The Sofia City Court has postponed the trial against Rosen Zhelyazkov, the sole defendant in the case for the illegal ballot papers discovered on the eve of the early elections on May 12, 2013.

The next hearing was scheduled for 9:30 am on March 19, according to reports of the Focus news agency.

One of the Bulgarian government planes could be substituted as stated by Bulgarian Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski.

The idea involves selling the currently used 130-seat Airbus.

Bulgarian Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov announced Wednesday that in case the deficit is reduced more than expected, then the new debt can be decreased to BGN 6 B.

"There can be a decrease in the amount from BGN 8 B to BGN 6 B in case we manage to balance the budgets for 2015 through to 2017 fiscal years,'' he said, as reported by the Bulgarian National Radio.

The parties constituting Bulgaria's ruling coalition are divided over the Finance Ministry's proposal for a new debt amounting to BGN 16 B, which is to be voted in Parliament later on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov held consultations with the four parties supporting the coalition government - GERB, RB, PF and ABV, private bTV station reports.

President Rosen Plevneliev has urged the replacement of Vladimir Pisanchev as head of Bulgaria's main counter-intelligence unit, the State Agency for National Security (DANS).

This follows Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's comments that no high-level reshuffles will be made either at DANS or the Interior Ministry to avoid speculation of "political purges."

The construction of the northern portion of the Sofia bypass road will start on February 18, Minister of Regional Development Liliana Pavlova announced on Friday.

Pavlova added that Struma and Maritsa motorways will be launched by the end of October 2015.

She presented her 100 days in office report in Bulgarian Parliament, the Bulgarian National Radio reported.

Bulgarian PM Boiko Borisov and his former colleague, currently Party of European Socialists (PES) leader Sergei Stanishev have both agreed on the issue of the accession of Bulgaria in the Shengen area, a press release stated on Thursday.

Borisov's center-right party GERB is also a member of the European People's Party (EPP) holding majority in EU parliament. 

The parliamentary group of Bulgaria's main ruling party GERB restated its firm support for Environment Minister Ivelina Vasileva on Tuesday.

This comes after the oppositional Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) had demanded earlier on Tuesday the resignation of Vasileva due to the damages caused by the recent floods in the country.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov is the most mentioned figure in Bulgarian media in 2014, shows the joint media monitoring of the foundations Media Democracy and Konrad Adenauer, released on Tuesday.

Borisov was mentioned 3908 times in eight leading Bulgarian media (4 daily newspapers and 4 TV stations) in 2014.

Yane Yanev, leader of the marginal conservative Order Law and Justice (RZS) party, has been appointed advisor at the Council of Ministers.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov issued the appointment order for Yanev on Tuesday, according to reports of Darik radio based on the government's press office.