And in this election race, the topic of hemp was not heavily affected. The parties poured out their promises of all kinds of social benefits, such as more money (from taxpayers) for pensions, education, healthcare, defense, police, infrastructure, borders, world peace, the ozone hole, physical education, sports, etc. On the sidelines, however, stand tens of thousands of voters who are interested in who …
More »2017
Cheaper drugs? Why not?!
As we have already understood, the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) grows annually and unjustifiably. On the other hand, mortality is increasing, while diseases are showing a constant trend. Theft through referrals has been a known fact for years and is easily noticeable in regional statistics. Since we have begun to dismantle the healthcare system, we must …
More »And the forest won't wonder why with such "rightists", the leftists come to power
Or the story of how the far-right Bulgarian parties sided with the rich resorts against the poor municipalities. The Ministry of Environment and Water officially announced that an eco-assessment has never been done on a management plan for a Bulgarian natural or national park. Here we are talking about an external eco-assessment, since every draft plan for …
More »Pre-election exhortations: BSP outsmarted its main competitor
The following article aims to examine the programs of the two main parties in the next parliamentary elections - BSP and GERB. The basis for this is a debate organized by "Nova TV", as well as the programs published on their websites. The article focuses on their economic aspects and, even more so, their consequences for the fiscal system. The first …
More »Why Bulgaria should not enter the Eurozone
Recently, Bulgaria's possible entry into the EU's monetary union, the so-called Eurozone, has become a hot topic. Over the past week, a number of experts, led by the former economic team of the NMSV and Ivan Kostov, took turns explaining in various media why Bulgaria should abolish the currency board as soon as possible and …
More »Why are Radan Kanev and Yes, Bulgaria defending the monopoly of Bansko?
On Friday, a media storm erupted around a document signed by the acting Minister of Ecology (and around the Bansko resort), according to which the new Pirin Park management plan does not need an eco-assessment – just as no park management plan in Bulgaria has ever had one. An eco-assessment is being done …
More »Why shouldn't and can't we buy "only Bulgarian"?
At the end of 2016, the "patriotic" idea of imposing Bulgarian food in stores became fashionable again, as the state had to introduce corresponding repressive requirements on businesses along the lines of "buy only Bulgarian". According to the draft law submitted by the BSP, "for part of the quantities of products offered, the production of which is traditional for Bulgaria...it is mandatory...
More »Analysis of election promises about culture - more of the same?
What is the right-wing policy in culture? Are these ideas represented in politics and what do most parties actually say, commenting on this sector? Everyone is united that “culture should be a priority”, but this is a completely populist phrase. How will culture actually be important in Bulgaria, a priority – not for the parties, …
More »The economic promises of the parties – harmful even before they fail
Ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, we are witnessing one of the strangest election campaigns in recent years. This is a campaign in which political parties are falling into heavy populism, promising us a flood of absurdities - economic growth of 6-7% per year, doubling pensions, huge increases in the average and minimum wage...
More »Belene NPP: The unnecessary energy project that refuses to die
A specter has been haunting the Bulgarian political space lately. The specter of the supposedly suspended Belene NPP project. Although it was suspended in 2012, as anyone who has followed the developments in recent months knows, some of the equipment needed for the construction of the new nuclear power plant is already on its way to Bulgaria, …
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EKIP– Expert Club for Economics and Politics A Different Opinion