As a true diplomat, Prime Minister Marin Raykov, said he was seeking reserves to help the poorest. He made the statement with a soothing tone and enchanting words, although demand for enchanting words is ever decreasing in Bulgaria. At the same. His decisions remain tied to the hundreds of thousands of levs that are being poured into the renovation of government residence Evksinograd. Therefore it will not be a big surprise if eventually it all boils down to the excuses for the recent Kostinbrod scandal where the 350,000 ballot papers in excess were found a day before the general election on May 12. The caretaker premier said he knew nothing and the full responsibility were to be borne by of the Cabinet’s Secretary Rosen Zheliazkov. Who, if not the Prime Minister, has then authorized him to sign all these contracts, through which vast amounts from the budget are spent? This, however, already has little importance as the Cabinet will be replaced in the near future, and the newcomers are not going to complain from their summer vacation in the renovated palace by the sea.
Since at the beginning of this month, The Council of Minister, headed by Raikov quietly decided to give 240 thousand levs from the state money for the purchase of laboratory equipment for the wine cellar Evksinograd, it now appears that they have ordered new furniture for the residence for another 192 thousand lev. Nothing should impede the comfort and convenience of elected MPs? Not that old furniture is bad, it is just the pleasure of having brand new sofas.
According to the list, which BANKER has, for the furnishing of the bungalows on the beach of Evksinograd 29 different items will be bought. All of them are described in detail – starting from the size, construction, materials, colours, and coming even to the functionality of the individual components. It’s about a total of 13 beds, as many double beds, coffee tables, TV cabinets, dressing tables, stools, etc. Not to forget mirrors, wardrobes, paintings, curtains and bedspreads. Even the comfort around the pool has been taken into consideration for which are ordered 40 chairs made of artificial rattan with integrated soft pads, plus eight tables in the same style. Such kits will also be on each terrace of bungalows. Entirely new will be the chairs for the restaurants – solid wood birch with invisible joints and 100% cotton upholstery. The tone of upholstery will be beige-brown shepherd’s plaid.
It should be noted that the criteria for participation in the procurement procedure have been inflated to the utmost. A random company will not pass through initial screening. Candidates to participate in the procedure are required to show a turnover of at least 480 thousand levs, VAT excluded, for the last three years, which is the maximum allowable by law in this case. Furthermore, they must have fulfilled at least three contracts of similar nature. A key condition for participation will also be to provide samples of each of the 29 items in the list, although some of them will be ordered in one piece only. Thus, along with the bid guarantee of 1600 levs, the willing to take part in this contract will be forced to block a lot of money in the preparation of samples, without knowing if they can get their money back.
But new furniture and appliances for the wine cellar are not the only thing in the current crisis situation that the rulers are preparing to spend for their palace near the sea. As the BANKER wrote right after his appointment as caretaker prime minister Marin Raykov ordered a grandiose repair of Evksinograd site for nearly 10 million levs. Part of the money will be go to the reconstruction of the park, which covers an area of over 550 decares. Of course, the rulers may justify the upcoming expenses with the fact that the repair was planned long ago and is financed by the Regional Development Operational Programme, but in many people surely remains the bitter feeling that politicians are mainly concerned about their own fun. Of all these developments for millions an ordinary person would know nothing, because without an MP card in the residence place people are let just for short walks and on certain days only. But this doesn’t matter for MPs. What is important for them is to absorb the funds, to hire the right companies and have a fantastic summer break.
There is another thing: soon will be announced some more contracts related to Evksinograd. Over 583 thousand levs aare provided for renovation and furnishing of King Ferdinand’s house in the complex. Similar is the amount to go on a new refrigeration plant in the wine cellar. Other 416 thousand levs will be spent to replace ground water sewerage. The change of heat transfer equipment in the pump station will swallow another 66 thousand levs, while reconstruction of the bungalows – 42 thousand levs.
The BANKER
