Galab Spasov Donev (Bulgarian: Гълъб Спасов Донев; born 28 February 1967) is a Bulgarian politician who served as the caretaker Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2 August 2022[1][2][3] to 6 June 2023. He is the longest-serving caretaker prime minister in Bulgaria's history to date.
Galab Donev | |
|---|---|
| Гълъб Донев | |
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 2 August 2022 – 6 June 2023 | |
| President | Rumen Radev |
| Deputy | Atanas Pekanov Ivan Demerdzhiev Lazar Lazarov Hristo Alexiev |
| Preceded by | Kiril Petkov |
| Succeeded by | Nikolai Denkov |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria | |
| In office 12 May 2021 – 13 December 2021 Serving with Boyko Rashkov and Atanas Pekanov | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Yanev |
| Preceded by | Tomislav Donchev Ekaterina Zakharieva Krasimir Karakachanov Mariyana Nikolova |
| Succeeded by | Asen Vasilev Korneliya Ninova Grozdan Karadjov Kalina Konstantinova Borislav Sandov |
| Minister of Labor and Social Policy | |
| In office 12 May 2021 – 13 December 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Stefan Yanev |
| Preceded by | Denitsa Sacheva |
| Succeeded by | Georgi Gyokov |
| In office 27 January 2017 – 4 May 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Ognyan Gerdzhikov |
| Preceded by | Zornitsa Rusinova |
| Succeeded by | Biser Petkov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 February 1967 Sofia, PR Bulgaria |
| Political party | Independent |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of National and World Economy |
| Occupation | Politician |
An independent politician, he previously served as the minister of labor and social policy in the cabinet of Stefan Yanev.[2] He is an expert in finance, law and social policy and also has a background in the army.[4]
Activity as Caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy (2021)
editIn May, 2021, Galab Donev was appointed as Caretaker Minister of Labour and Social Policy in the First Yanev Government.[5]
Pension reform and Budget Actualization
editIn this role, Galab Donev oversaw the continued increase of state-issued pensions by 50 Leva per month during the Yanev government's tenure.[6]
During discussions over the actualization of the state budget, Donev submitted two proposals for the recalculation of pensions: one which would have involved an 'insurance' payment and another which would have raised the 'work experience' coefficient from 1.2 to 3.5, with Donev recommending the latter route.[7]
In a special briefing on 22 July, Donev announced that all pensions will on average increase 12.5% after the 1st of October, and that social supports will be created to support pensioners whose current pension is below the poverty line.[8] Donev further promised that there would not be any pensioners whose income will be below the poverty line, set at 411 Leva.[9] Donev opposed the proposed increase of the minimum pension from 300 Leva to 370 Leva calling it unjust due to differing contributions to the Insurance Fund.[10]
Action towards COVID
editIn August 2021, Donev confirmed that all measures previously implemented in other COVID-related lockdown periods will be retained.[11] On the 2nd of September, Donev confirmed that schools would return to physical in-classroom education, citing the need for at-risk youths to be retained within the school system.[12]
On 28 October, Donev confirmed that employees could not be terminated if they refused to be vaccinated, although employers were allowed to implement special measures meant to reduce the spread of COVID in the workplace.[13]
Activity as Prime Minister (2022–2023)
editActivity as Prime Minister (2022–2023)
editDonev was officially appointed as Caretaker Prime Minister on the 1st of August, by President Rumen Radev, after all attempts at government formation failed after the successful fall of the Petkov Government in June 2022.
During the official ceremony for the appointment, Donev outlined the main priorities of the incoming caretaker government: the organization of fair elections; restoring trust in institutions; finding pathways out of "inherited crises"; reducing political polarization and continued work on implementing laws to do with the European Plan for Recovery and Stability.[14]
During the official handover ceremony with outgoing PM Kiril Petkov, Donev urged the incoming Caretaker Ministers to "dedicate 100% of their energy to finding creative solutions for Bulgarian citizens".[15]
On 3 August, one day after the appointment of the cabinet, Donev announced the formation of a Crisis-Management Team, headed by the Vice-Minister for the Economy, Hristo Aleksiev, to tackle issues with the supply of energy to the country.[16]
On 4 August, Donev chaired the first regular meeting of the Cabinet, during which he announced that the government was developing a plan to financially stabilise the primary Bulgarian energy supplier, Bulgargaz, and did not need "consultations".[17]
On 11 August, Donev announced that Bulgargaz would receive an 800 million Leva loan to insure the security of gas deliveries throughout the winter months.[18]
During the National Consultation of the Ministry of Interior, on August 12, Galab Donev stated that "the state has declared war on the controlled and bought vote", and outlined the two main priorities of the Ministry of Interior as insuring fair elections and reducing road-related crime.[19]
After the traffic disaster on the highway "Trakiya", Donev expressed the view that the Ministry of Interior must "do more" to prevent traffic incidents in the future.[20]
On 26 August, after the death of two police officers in clashes with human traffickers near the border with Turkey, Donev expressed his condolences with their families and promised a "swift response" to the recent increased migration pressure on the Bulgarian-Turkish border.[21]
His role as caretaker prime minister ended on June 6, 2023, when the National Assembly decided to vote on a proposal to authorize a cabinet headed by Nikolai Denkov.[22]
References
edit- ^ Todorov, Svetoslav (1 August 2022). "Bulgaria President Appoints Social Policy Advisor Interim PM". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Galab Donev Appointed Caretaker PM". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Bulgaria president calls Oct 2 snap polls, appoints caretaker govt". Reuters. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Bulgarian Politics: Who are the New Ministers in the Caretaker Government and When are Next Elections - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency". www.novinite.com. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Сачева: Надявам се Гълъб Донев да не се поддаде на реваншистки настроения". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Пенсионерите ще получат добавка от 50 лв. и през юни". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Служебното правителство предлага два варианта за преизчисляване на пенсиите". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Добавката от 50 лв. влиза трайно в размера на пенсията". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Донев: При приемане на предложението ни – догодина минималната пенсия ще стане 411 лв". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Не е справедливо минималната пенсия да се увеличава много". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Нова мярка - "75 на 0", ще се прилага при затваряне на бизнеси". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: В условия на пандемия трябва да задържим в клас децата в риск". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Не могат да се отстраняват от работа хора, които не са ваксинирани". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Не губя равновесие от високото". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Донев към служебните министри: Очаквам умни решения с мисъл за всеки гражданин". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев създаде кризисен щаб за енергетиката". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Обявяваме търг за краткосрочни доставки на втечнен газ". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Отпускат 800 млн. лева заем на "Булгаргаз"". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Държавата обяви война на контролирания и купения вот". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Войната на пътя е безумие, очаквам от МВР сериозен контрол". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Гълъб Донев: Загиналите полицаи възстановиха компрометираната граница с цената на живота си". BTV (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Bulgaria's National Assembly elects Denkov government". The Sofia Globe. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024.