Bozhanov warns Lukoil crisis and budget chaos ahead

Bulgaria must amend its constitution to restructure the prosecutor’s office because internal reform efforts will fail, said Bozhidar Bozhanov, a former electronic governance minister who co-leads Yes Bulgaria within the PP-DB coalition. The prosecutorial system functions as an organized crime network and cannot be expected to reform itself, he told Bulgarian National Radio.

Bozhanov addressed parliament’s decision to halt diesel and jet fuel exports while officials determine the fate of the sanctioned Lukoil refinery. His coalition filed a no-confidence motion after Prime Minister Boyko Borisov confirmed illegitimate ministry influences, though the vote ultimately strengthened rather than weakened the administration. The opposition has requested hearings three times in two weeks to learn the government’s Lukoil strategy but received no response, suggesting authorities lack any plan and are manufacturing uncertainty.

PP-DB advocates selling Lukoil to owners unconnected with Russia while using the state’s golden share and supervisory board seat to guide decisions. Authorities should have issued an executive order on fuel exports rather than seeking legislative approval, Bozhanov argued. He warned that the 2026 budget draft represents the heaviest tax burden in recent memory.