After nearly 2 hours of heated debate, the Budget and Finance Committee rejected the proposal of GERB - SDS to cancel the derogation for the purchase of Russian oil from Lukoil.
Expectedly, Rumen Gechev from BSP and Tsoncho Ganev from Revival made sharp statements. The surprise came from the PPDB coalition, who joined the general chorus of Russophile parties. Even hawks against Lukoil like Martin Dimitrov and Georgi Ganev could not break party discipline and also voted against. How the billions of super-profits for Lukoil and Putin are linked to the DB's plan for the "deputinisation of Bulgaria" remains a complete mystery.
As expected, Finance Minister Assen Vassilev also joined in a fervent defense of Russian oil for Lukoil. Not surprising, since he ultimately guaranteed them these excess profits early last year by forcing the EC to grant them a derogation. For what sum of money this favour was done remains a mystery to this day. / BGNES