The delay in the discussion and adoption of the Law on the Ceiling of Surcharges and the Law on the Agri-Food Chain serves the retail chains. This was said by the leader of "Stand Up.BG“ and one of the authors of the bill, Maya Manolova, in the program "Bulgaria, Europe and the World in Focus“ on Radio "Focus“.
The two largest retail chains in Bulgaria have an annual turnover of over 7 billion leva, she pointed out. "This is a huge economic power, these are powerful transnational companies and it is clear that the pressure they have been exerting on politicians of different colors for years is enormous. The question is why, after the authorities said that regulation and adoption of laws are necessary, the Ministry of Agriculture is delaying," commented Manolova.
If no further action is taken, the initiators of the boycott of retail chains are considering further action, said the chairman of "Stand Up.BG". "The boycotts in Croatia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, and Greece led to immediate action by governments. There is no country in all of Europe that has not taken measures to regulate the price increases of basic food products. The only ones who have not reacted are Bulgarian politicians. There is no such country and no such government that has completely knelt before retail chains. Until last year, the prices of over 5,000 products were regulated in France“,“ Maya Manolova pointed out.
According to her, some experts see in the unjustified increase in the prices of basic food products a preliminary increase related to the country's entry into the eurozone. "In case there is a positive convergence report, we are considering proposing to the deputies the so-called "Anti-speculation" Law, with which we would request that the prices of basic food products be frozen 6 months before the introduction of the euro and 6 months after, in order to protect citizens. In this way, the fears of Bulgarians that prices will increase with entry into the eurozone will decrease. There must be draconian sanctions for all speculators who will use entry into the eurozone to once again defraud Bulgarian citizens“, Maya Manolova was categorical.