During an event at the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia, Prime Minister Rumen Radev congratulated the graduates of the Class of 2026 by presenting them with the "National Diploma." This prestigious award is bestowed annually upon young people with exceptional academic results, based on the following criteria:

  • Achieved excellent grades (6.00) in all subjects recorded in their secondary education diploma;
  • Excellent scores on the state matriculation exams;
  • Outstanding talents and achievements in science, arts, technology, or sports.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, the Prime Minister also addressed the issue of security, noting that modern societies are still seeking a balance between safety and personal freedoms. According to Radev, this is a fundamental question without a definitive answer. He emphasized the need for decisive resistance against violence: "Terrorism has no place in our societies, and we must fight with all our might to curb any manifestation of terrorism. This is an extremely difficult task - it requires comprehensive actions in many directions," the Prime Minister stressed.

Commenting on the upcoming selection of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) members, Radev confirmed that the process would be conducted in compliance with the rules currently in effect. He warned parliamentary forces against turning staff appointments into a field for political engineering. "The members of the SJC will be elected according to the old rules. The point is not to let the election of SJC members turn into political games and political betting. That would be disastrous for the formation of a new SJC, and the parties must not block this process," he stated.

In addition, the Prime Minister clarified the progress of state initiatives to regulate the gambling industry, explaining that the measures are not limited only to advertising bans. The cabinet's goal is to cut off attempts at money laundering, neutralize the link with payday loans, and contain the problem of addiction through a comprehensive legislative package. "The issue of gambling is not just about limiting advertising; we are preparing comprehensive legal changes to bring transparency to this business, limit addiction to it—because this is an extremely serious problem—and increase tax collection. And to prevent any attempts to use this business to launder money, as it is, of course, linked to payday loans," the Prime Minister added.