March 17 (SeeNews) - Twelve associations representing Bulgarian businesses and entrepreneurs on Friday urged political formations to ensure the creation of a stable government after the April 2 early general election, which will be able to implement much-needed reforms and address critical business environment challenges.
Bulgaria must strive to join the euro area and Schengen passport-free travel zone as soon as possible, pass the necessary legislative and administrative reforms to guarantee the rule of law in the country and prioritise reform of the education system to meet employers' needs, the twelve organisations said in an open letter.
The signatories also highlighted as priorities the need to guarantee fully functioning regulatory bodies and institutions, ensure the absorption of EU funds under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan, and improve business environment to facilitate investment.
"It is time to turn Bulgaria into a good place to live, with high standards, a place for honest and free business, a preferred destination for investments, a country with a vision for the future and with genuine rule of law, to return to people the feeling that there is justice. An elected government is needed, which will lead an adequate policy in the interest of Bulgaria and the choice we made decades ago - to be part of Europe, and the democratic and free world," the signatories said.
In January, Bulgarian president Rumen Radev called a new general election on April 2 after three attempts to form government within the last parliament failed. The country's last general election, the fourth in less than two years, was held in October 2022 but failed to produce a clear winner or a viable coalition in parliament able to form a government. Bulgaria has been governed by a caretaker cabinet appointed by the president in August 2022.
"We state that real commitment and support for business and the economy from you, the politicians, will be measured in the coming months by your willingness to form a sustainable government that will do its job to resolve the critical issues and challenges facing our country," the business associations stressed.
The open letter is signed by the Association for innovation, business excellence, services and technology (AIBEST), the Bulgarian Association for People Management (BAPM), the Bulgarian Association of Communication Agencies (BACA), the Bulgarian Association of PR Agencies (BAPRA), the Bulgarian Association of Software Companies (BASSCOM), the Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies (BAIT), the Bulgarian Startup Association (BESCO), the Bulgarian Employers Association Innovative Technologies (BRAIT), the Bulgarian Fintech Association, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Bulgaria, the ICT Cluster and the Family Business Network (FBN) Bulgaria.