In connection with the refusal of the local governments and communities in Elin Pelin and Shiroka Luka to accept refugees, Dnevnik newspaper explores the ways political parties treat the problem. Gerb has refused to comment on these developments though last summer the government of Boyko Borissov issued a decree regulating the settlement of refugee families in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Socialist Party election platform envisages the suspension of this decree with a view to annihilating the possibility of lasting settlement of refugees whose social security payments are covered by the state. DPS (the predominantly Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms) suggests measures for social integration of refugees willing to stay in the country and participate in its economy. The United Patriots nationalist coalition opposes such measures and supports the refusal to accept refugees with the argument that local authorities and communities have the absolute right to either wish or refuse to live together with certain newcomers. The Reformist Bloc rightwing coalition has said that a refugee is anybody in need of shelter, not someone who has crossed the border illegally. The stance of the New Republic coalition which is another rightwing group is that opposing the few migrants who have received asylum in Bulgaria is the result of institutions not working properly and of populism and according to Yes, Bulgaria group the refusal to register individuals with refugee status is a violation of the law that should be sanctioned. Sega touches upon another aspect of the topic with the headline, “Three state agencies ping-pong refugee children”. The newspaper argues on its front page that refugee centers are full of underage migrants though this is not the right place for them as they come under risk. According to the article state bodies are totally incapable of dealing properly with refugee children who are unaccompanied. In figures of the Social Support Agency, just 17 refugee children were properly accommodated in the whole of 2016 from the total of 425 unaccompanied underage refugees who are known to be in Bulgaria.
Compiled by Stoimen Pavlov
English Daniela KonstantinovaThe Bulgarian Parliament has finally postponed the liberalisation of the energy market for one year, starting from 1 July. The decision was taken with 152 votes in favour - of GERB-CDS, MRF, Vazrazhdane, "BSP for Bulgaria" and ITN. 35 PP-DB MPs..
"Money for salaries in the tourist sector has increased many times, but there are no staff in Bulgaria." This statement about the state of the tourism industry in Bulgaria was made by Veselin Nalbantov, Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel and..
Thousands of miners and energy workers, members of the two main trade unions, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the trade union "Podkrepa", gathered in the area between the buildings of the National Assembly and the..
MEPs are concerned about Russian interference in the upcoming elections on June 9, and the properties on the territory of Bulgaria currently owned by..
On Wednesday minimum temperatures in the country will range from 7 to 12° C., for Sofia 9° C. During the day there will be sun, with clouds over the..
On Thursday , a cold atmospheric front will pass through the country. It will be rainy with thunders over the whole of Bulgaria. There..
+359 2 9336 661