The caretaker government will not allow the forestry sector to be used as an electoral bank in the upcoming elections. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture Ivan Hristanov at a forum of agricultural producers near Kazanlak, quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio. He announced that tomorrow he will convene a meeting of the management of the state forestry enterprises, demanding the depoliticization of the sector.
The minister added that an inspection of appointments in the forestry and hunting farms over the past 3 years will be carried out.
"I receive dozens of signals every day, because in specific areas in the forestry sector, state forestry enterprises, hunting farms, personnel changes have been made until a few days ago, the main task of which is to be electoral banks. We will not allow such a thing, we cannot have bias towards any political force. We will do everything possible to depoliticize the sector", said Ivan Hristanov.
He announced that at the EU level he will insist on equal funding for the agricultural sector, on par with the rearmament mechanism. According to the acting Minister of Agriculture, food security is of the same fundamental importance as defense and security.
"If we have nothing to eat, it doesn't matter how many guns we have", said Hristanov.
The acting Minister of Agriculture also announced that the indicative schedule for payments to support agricultural producers will be approved and signed tomorrow, and the payment campaign will begin on time. The relevant regulations that need to be adopted are also being considered, the minister said.
Hristanov emphasized that on the topic of sunflower imports from Argentina, there is a serious discrepancy between producers and processors. On this occasion, he emphasized that a consensus solution will be sought.