Politics

Bulgarian producer prices on the domestic market rose 2.5% in February on annual basis, National Statistical Institute data showed on Tuesday.

While price reductions of 7,3% were reported in the production and distribution of electricity, heat and gas, the extractive industries have experienced the largest index growth of 5.7%.

Price increases in manufacturing on annual basis were reported by the statistics office. Prices in the manufacture of tobacco products rose by 23.3%, the increase in the production of basic metals was by 16.2%, and the production of vehicles, (except for car production) experienced a price growth of 6.1%.

The staff reductions at consular offices are impeding the processing of data for the new personal ID cards and passports of Bulgarians living abroad.

The information was reported Tuesday by the spokesperson of the Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Vesela Cherneva. Cherneva said 111 applications have been submitted Monday at 15 consular offices around the globe, adding there have been problems in the process.

Bulgaria's ruling political party, GERB, and its chairman, PM Boyko Borisov, are firmly behind the constitutional reasons for impeaching President Georgi Parvanov.

The party has confirmed this position on Tuesday, in reply to a challenge thrown down by Yane Yanev, leader of the Order, Law and Justice (RZS) party to the Prime Minister.

Yanev demanded on Monday that PM Borisov should refute his own Sunday statements that the President would be impeached for criticizing the cabinet. Yanev had declared the rebuttal a condition for his party's support for the impeachment procedure, in which his small party votes are crucial.