The name of the actual buyer of the State-owned cigarette-maker monopoly Bulgartabac is going to be revealed very soon, Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, promised.

Speaking Saturday from the Black Sea city of Varna, Traikov, however, stressed that the most important issue was who the investor is, not the buyer. He added that there is no guarantee about the ID of the latter, “unless it is one of the strategic ones.”

The Minister explained the possibility the tobacco monopoly can be resold stands, but whoever acquires it, will have the same commitments, reiterating social ones, related to the jobs of people at the company, were among the best protected.

In an earlier TV interview, also on Saturday, the Minister said the contract guarantees jobs at the Holding, and the company’s continuing pay of taxes and fees to the State. He pointed out workers there have excellent job conditions, and their labor contracts are among the most generous in the country.

When asked who is going to be the guarantor that Bulgartabac will comply with the contract, Traikov stated the control belongs fully to the Privatization and Post-privatization Control Agency.

The only member of the Agency’s Supervisory Board, Rusi Statkov, to vote against the deal, declared earlier that Bulgartabac must not be sold since the contract is against national interests. The Minister stressed again the deal was a good one taking into account the current situation.

After five-hour debates on Friday, the Supervisory Council of the Privatization and Post-privatization Control Agency approved the sale of Bulgartabac to o BT Invest, a firm wholly owned by Russia‘s government bank VTB.

The Supervisory Board of the Privatization and Post-privatization Control Agency is a political body, elected by the Parliament. It consist of three representatives of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, one each from the opposition left-wing from the quota of the opposition left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, the opposition ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, the right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria, DSB, and the far-right, nationalist Ataka.

The price offered by BT Invest, the sole bidder standing, after several major players withdrew, is EUR 100.1 M with investments of BGN 7 M in the next two years and the commitment to purchase 5 000 metric tons of Bulgarian tobacco a year (about 14% of the crop). The draft contract also includes a clause banning a resell in the next 5 years.

Meanwhile, the same day, the labor union of the Bulgartabac workers organized a protest rally in front of the Privatization Agency’s building in Sofia. They oppose the sale of the cigarette maker to the only remaining bidder in the public procurement procedure and insist that the Governing Board rejects the offer.

In a declaration to Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, the Union demands halting the deal and the resignation of the Privatization Agency’s CEO, Emil Karanikolov. About 500 people took part in the rally.

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Bulgaria will hold auctions for a total of six shale gas exploration blocks, said Kristalina Stoykova from the Geological Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS).

Stoykova heads a scientific group in charge of shale gas research in Bulgaria.

In her words, four of the blocks that will be auctioned off are located in North-East Bulgaria and two other in North-Central Bulgaria.

At this stage, US oil and gas giant Chevron has won a contract to carry out shale gas exploration works near the town of for Novi Pazar in North-East Bulgaria. ‘

According to the estimates of the bidders, the deposit near Novi Pazar contains between 300 billion and 1 trillion cubic meters of shale gas.

A few days ago, local authorities said they would appeal the government’s decision to sign a contract for shale gas exploration and production.

The tender procedures for the other shale gas exploration blocks have not been finalized yet.

According to Stoykova, shale gas exploration does not differ from conventional oil and gas drilling, with Bulgaria already hosting over 2000 such platforms.

Stoykova dismisses the risk of water and soil contamination as a result of shale gas exploration.

Shale gas remains a contentious issue in Bulgaria, with environmentalists and people residing near designated exploration blocks stressing the water, soil and air pollution and the seismic risks, while energy experts put the benefits of energy diversification at the forefront.

According to Bulgarian Energy Minister Traicho Traikov, a strong proponent of shale gas drilling, domestic shale gas deposits should suffice to guarantee the country’s natural gas consumption for the next 1000 years.

The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), however, has called for holding local referendums before giving the green light to shale gas exploration and extraction.

Evgeniya “Zheni” Zhivkova, a prominent Bulgarian designer, has revealed her ambitions to run as the leftist Bulgarian Socialist Party’s presidential candidate in the upcoming October elections.

Zhivkova is the granddaughter of the communist head of state Todor Zhivkov, who was in power from 1971 until 1989. She was also an MP from 2001 until 2009.

“I consider the option to continue my participation in BSP‘s presidential nominations shortlist,” she told the TV7 private channel Monday.

Evgeniya Zhivkova stated that a President should be “a unifier of the nation”.

She revealed that she will organize concerts and celebrations dedicated to the 100th anniversary since Todor Zhivkov‘s birth, which is on September 7. Apart from that, public debates will be held on which Zhivkov’s political legacy will be discussed, she said.

Zhivkova described her grandfather as a “scapegoat”, claiming his good political deeds are vastly overlooked and that his legacy will be appreciated sooner or later.

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Bulgaria’s former foreign minister and current member of the European Parliament, Nadezhda Neynski, formerly Mihaylova, has confirmed plans to join the race for president in the autumn.

“I believe I am fit to run for the presidential office, which is the reason why I have agreed that my party debates my nomination,” Neynski told the morning broadcast of Nova TV channel on Friday.

“It does not matter what I think about my chances to win the elections. What my party thinks is what matters most.”

She stressed that the most important issue during the run-up to the presidential elections should be the debate about the prerogatives of the head of state office and warned of the danger of disappointment.

Nadezhda Neynski has been the name most often mentioned by media and public as a possible right-wing candidate. A recent poll has shown she enjoys about 10% support.

The Blue Coalition has said it is ready to negotiate with other parties as well. According to them the election platform of the presidential candidate must focus on education, health care and administration.