Sun, Nov 22 2009
The level of transparency in terms of political party finding was dangerously low at the 2007 municipal elections in Bulgaria, Transparency International Bulgaria (TBI) told a news conference on April 16 2008.
The elections were given a transparency index of 1.77 points from a maximum of 10, Bulgarian news agency BTA said. This is the lowest index since 2005, when TIB had its first survey on the issue.
The current survey was conducted in October-November 2007 and covered the cities of Varna, Rousse, Haskovo, Vidin, Doupnitsa and Bourgas.
Just 131 of the 326 registered candidates for mayors and municipal councillors in the six cities have presented reports on the financing of their campaigns TIB said.
By not submitting their reports candidates have demonstrated a lack of desire to observe the law, said political analyst Anatolii Gulabov. For him it was quite obvious that a large part of the parties played the role of "letter box" formations, in other words they are used for the re-distribution of funds during elections.
The European Commission is taking Bulgaria to court for delays in providing Sofia with adequate waste disposal facilities.
James Warlick is the spouse of Mary Warlick, director of the office of Russian affairs at the US state department, who has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Serbia
Bulgaria’s Health Ministry announced on November 20 2009 that the flu epidemic declared two weeks earlier is at an end as rates of infection decline. The announcement coincides with reports of two deaths from A (H1N1) flu in Bulgaria.
Acting on allegations by Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria leader Ivan Kostov, prosecutors and Government officials are to probe deals by which Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan acquired various properties.
Prosecutors allege that a deal agreed by the former defence minister caused losses of 12.9 million leva.