Bliznashki Government

Bulgarian tourism continued its sustainable development in 2019 despite the difficulties, strong international competition and the bankruptcy of the Thomas Cook tour operator, Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova said at a meeting of the Council of Ministers today, the press office of her ministry said.

Interim Agriculture Minister Hristo Bozukov has urged the chair of State Fund Agriculture, Rumen Porozhanov, to step down, his ministry says.

It quotes Bozukov as saying "public mistrust of the State Fund Agriculture", alongside "doubts about the legitimacy of the choice of a CEO" and a "court ruling to reinstate the previous leadership".

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has categorically declined to appoint his own interim cabinet after the elected government resigned in November.

Instead, Plevneliev has said he stands ready to put his approval stamp on any caretaker administration proposed by his successor, President-elect Rumen Radev.

If no new cabinet can be agreed after the last government resigned, President Rosen Plevneliev will have to appoint an interim administration to govern the country until elections in the spring.

Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev has vowed to do everything within his mandate to save the current Parliament and help political parties form a new government.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev is set to meet members of the expat community in New York on the first day of his visit to the United States, his press office says.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has dismissed Deputy Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov, the government press office said in a statement on Monday.

The statement cited no reasons for the dismissal, only saying that Yankulov had asked to leave the position, according to the statement.

The director of Bulgaria's Defence Information Service, Yordan Bakalov, has reportedly submitted his resignation.

According to 24 Chasa daily, after his return from a meeting with his NATO colleagues on Friday, Bakalov informed Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev of his decision to resign.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has told Parliament he will use his constitutional right to trigger a national referendum on election rules.

"There is a consensus that it has to be held alongside local elections."

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov on Monday appointed several deputy ministers under proposals made by the respective heads of ministries.

Katya Todorova, Valentin Poryazov and Rumen Alexandrov will carry on as deputy ministers of foreign affairs - posts to which they had been appointed in August by catetaker Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki.