The current 2013 categorically does not belong to the politicians, but to the civil society in Bulgaria – it sets the agenda and draws the attention of the institutions. This is what Rosen Plevneliev said. He opened the first of a series of discussions under his aegis devoted to the market economy in Bulgaria.
More than 230 participants took part in the forum titled “Dialogue with the Citizens”. The Head of State defined the aim of the discussion as not only creating the opportunity for hearing everybody’s opinion, but also providing solutions.
The President recalled that the wave of protests staged in the winter and summer of 2013 clearly indicated the problems the public is facing, which should be solved. Among them are corruption, media freedom, the oligarchy, the not functioning judiciary, Rosen Plevneliev pointed out.
The economy does not need experiments, but taking steps in the correct direction. However, a consensus on the long-term national priorities should be reached, the President recalled once again. “We should seek the common ground among the political parties that will serve the interests of the economy and the country’s development. Today this is the best opportunity for ensuring participation of the citizens in defining these priorities,” the President said at the opening ceremony of the dialogue with the citizens.
“Although there are two different worlds in Bulgaria, our country is only one. Therefore we will have to direct our attention to the best we can do and to look more in the future than in the past,” the Head of State reiterated.
Rosen Plevneliev said that he feels at ease to freely voice his opinion and offer solutions to the problems. We are speaking of corruption, oligarchy, of a “sick market economy which should be operated,” the President further added.
The Head of State outlined the management of the public funds, the public procurements, the privatization of the grey sector as most problematic for the quality of the market economy in Bulgaria. Part of the solutions to these problems boil down to the implementation of standard public procurements and e-governance in Bulgaria, President Plevneliev further emphasized and said that by putting collective efforts in the direction set by the citizens, the market environment in Bulgaria may be reformed.