Bulgaria

The weather in Bulgaria on Thursday, November 21, will be variable, according to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. Rain is expected in the morning, followed by sunny periods in the afternoon. Snow will fall in Western Bulgaria and the Forebalkan region during the morning. Winds will be moderate to strong, coming from the west.

The Organized Crime Units have successfully dismantled a criminal organization involved in the illegal production and trafficking of tobacco products, as part of a joint operational action (JAD) at the European level, under the auspices of Europol and coordinated by Eurojust.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has once again appealed to the Constitutional Court, seeking to declare unconstitutional the amendments made to the Constitution by the 49th National Assembly.

A recent nationally representative survey by the "Trend" Research Center reveals that 61% of Bulgarians view the euro as a stable currency. Additionally, 42% of respondents express confidence in the stability of the European economy. The survey, commissioned by 24 Chasa, was conducted from October 16 to 22, 2024, and included 1,002 adult participants from across Bulgaria.

Pensions in Bulgaria will be increased by 9.6-9.7% from July next year, as per the Ministry of Finance's latest estimates, which are in line with the Swiss indexation rule. Initially, experts had predicted a smaller increase of 8.7%. As a result, the minimum pension is expected to rise to approximately 636-637 leva.

The Netherlands may still pose a challenge to Bulgaria and Romania's full accession to the Schengen zone, according to a report in the Financial Times.

More than 1,200 taxis caused a blockade on the "Trakia" highway near Plovdiv, specifically at the 121st kilometer.

Taxi drivers from over 50 cities across Bulgaria came together for a national protest against the sharp rise in the cost of mandatory "Civil Liability" insurance.

Delyan Peevski, leader of "DPS - New Beginning," called for new elections, emphasizing the need for governance that prioritizes the people's interests. Speaking on the ongoing parliamentary impasse, he remarked, "It's time for elections because there must finally be consideration for the people. Those inside the plenary hall are not thinking about them.

The Bulgarian National Assembly continued its efforts to elect a Speaker, but for the fourth consecutive time, no candidate managed to secure the necessary support. In today's first voting session, the stalemate persisted.

Acting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev announced that a joint declaration regarding Bulgaria's accession to Schengen will be signed on Friday in Budapest. The declaration will be signed by the interior ministers of Bulgaria, Romania, and Austria.