SofiaEcho RSS feed Opinion

Macro: Fiscal reservations

Alex Bivol — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Every Bulgarian, it is sometimes said, is an expert in matters of finance and knows how to fix the economy.

Editorial: Crime and codes

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

It is not that there have been no laws on these issues before; the problem has been that either they have provided for penalties that are too mild, or have not been put into practice at all.

My Bulgaria: Tricked

Petar Kostadinov — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Knowing Borissov’s sensitivity to criticism, impeachment talks hit a bull’s-eye and Borissov fell into the trap.

Legal Alien: The Pizza Connection

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov’s use of pizza to illustrate the 2010 Budget – thin crust, scant topping – inspired two Sofia restaurants to turn into reality the Dyankov Pizza; but Bulgaria’s political pantry offers many more possibilities.

Death threats in Bosnia-Herzegovina

Oliver Vujovic — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:58:00 +0200

Journalists must be free to report and investigate cases without fear of pressure or death threats.

The English Angle: Happiness...

Gabriel Hershman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:00 +0200

Happiness can hit when you don’t search for it. Back in the UK, I once lived in a posh block in central London.

Editorial: Presidents and prime ministers

Petar Kostadinov — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:00 +0200

Conflicts between Bulgarian presidents and prime ministers have never helped either side.

Offline: IT failure

Rene Beekman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:00 +0200

A November report by the Bulgarian National Audit Office on Government spending on IT hardware and training in education showed chaos that bordered on the incomprehensible.

Living Bulgaria: High hopes for the new government

Bill Drysdale — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:58:00 +0200

My role as a columnist is not a political one, but in furthering my central theme of "upholding the good name of Bulgaria" it is not possible to avoid the subject.

The English Angle: Charisma

Gabriel Hershman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

One conspicuous absentee from the 20th anniversary celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall was former British prime minister Mrs Thatcher.

Offline: Password protected

Rene Beekman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Anything that is digital can and will be copied, sooner or later. Where and how the file is stored is irrelevant.

Editorial: Time of changes

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

In a week in which Europe and much of the world commemorated the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is notable that this new November heralded several changes of its own.

On swine flu

Dr David Hill — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Governments are brainwashed by the influence of the mighty pharmaceutical companies and therefore will not listen to the only definite "cure in town".

Macro: Living in the past

Alex Bivol — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Inasmuch as some Bulgarian officials are concerned, the credit crunch and the economic recession might as well have never happened.

Legal Alien: Taking the cake

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Not one to rest on his laurels, Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boiko Borissov has cut the budget for laurels. Not only laurels, but all Cabinet entertainment expenses on flower arrangements and buffets

Offline: Private parts

Rene Beekman — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Swedish daily The Local reported on October 21 2009 that a Swedish teenager who allegedly sent nude photos of his ex-girlfriend to his friends, had his conviction overturned upon appeal

Editorial: National insecurity

Clive Leviev-Sawyer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0200

The drama around Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security and former prime minister Sergei Stanishev is playing to the full advantage of Prime Minister Boiko Borissov.

My Bulgaria: Is it worth it?

Petar Kostadinov — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0200

A widespread view in Bulgaria, keenly supported by politicians, is that the work of the secret services should be hidden from the public eye so that the services can do their job to their utmost. This notion applies equally to secret services’ success and failures.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and the UN Security Council

Kevin Beck — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:00 +0200

Bosnia-Herzegovina has been elected to a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Late delivery: The Sofia Echo email bulletin

The Sofia Echo staff — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0200

A technical glitch caused the October 27 issue of The Sofia Echo email bulletin to go out to subscribers later than scheduled.