Prime Minister of Bulgaria: The oligarchy has been removed from the sphere of political power / “This is only the beginning of the journey”

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated on Monday, at an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, that the government “has eliminated the oligarchy’s influence” over political decisions, but that the fight to dismantle the oligarchic model is only just beginning.

Radev argued that the executive is working to block oligarchic groups’ access to public resources. The authorities are canceling public procurements considered compromised, reviewing other procedures, and carrying out inspections. The next stage targets identifying, together with partner services abroad, the assets and properties of Bulgarian citizens suspected of having been acquired illegally.

The prime minister said that the operation would also include intermediaries for oligarchic interests and mentioned information concerning the international flights of Delian Peevski, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. The government also intends to develop the SIGMA platform to prevent the institutions from being brought back under control.

At the same time, Radev announced a change in Bulgaria’s economic model, currently based on consumption and low wages. The executive is seeking increased investment, productivity, and competitiveness, as well as infrastructure development through concessions and public-private partnerships. The agenda also includes the reforms under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, in cooperation with the business community.