—🇲🇰 NEW: North Macedonia's parliament has passed a law requiring lawmakers to hold only Macedonian citizenship, effectively banning dual citizens from serving as MPs.

➡️ The measure was introduced following long-standing allegations from the opposition that several MPs from the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party hold dual Bulgarian citizenship.

➡️ While the Macedonian opposition backed the move, ethnic Albanian opposition parties opposed the law.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—☢️❗️🇺🇸 NEW: Pentagon nuclear security official Andrew Hugg has reportedly been detained after being caught on hidden camera disclosing classified information at a bar.

➡️ Hugg is accused of revealing sensitive nuclear secrets to an undercover individual, including the alleged locations of four underground missile silos.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇴 Bloomberg: Romania’s biggest political party quit the government after disagreements over unpopular austerity measures, leaving Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan in charge of a minority cabinet.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

🟦❌🌹 The National Liberal Party (PNL) will no longer form a future coalition with the Social Democrat Party (PSD).

Prime-minister and President of PNL, Ilie Bolojan says that the social democrat's behaviour and "habit of governing" is unacceptable. PSD is expected to play most cards when it comes to deciding who gets into government.

@Wallachian_Gazette

🇫🇷🇬🇷🇺🇦⚡️ — France has proposed a deal in which Greece would transfer its Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in exchange for discounted Rafale jets, Le Parisien reports.

➡️ The offer involves Greece potentially handing over up to 43 Mirage jets, though not all are operational, in return for a similar number of Dassault Rafale planes at a reduced cost.

➡️ Final terms and pricing are still expected to be negotiated between the two sides.

🏛⚖️ Ilie Bolojan announces interim ministers after PSD ministers resign!

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that he has taken note of the resignations of PSD-backed ministers and that he will send to President Nicușor Dan the proposals for the interim filling of the vacant portfolios.

The Head of the Executive stressed that it is essential that the Government's activity continues without any hitches, in the context of ongoing projects and assumed obligations, including with regard to PNRR funds and investment programs. In this regard, discussions were held with the deputy prime ministers to establish quick solutions.

According to the prime minister, the proposed interim ministers are ministers from the current cabinet, with experience, capable of immediately taking over their responsibilities. Thus, Dragoș Pîslaru will take over the Ministry of Labor, Cseke Attila, the Ministry of Health, Tánczos Barna, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Cătălin Predoiu will take the Ministry of Justice. Also, Bolojan will provide the interim at the Ministry of Energy, Radu Miruță at Transport.

The prime minister specified that the new interims must quickly collaborate with the former portfolio holders to ensure the continuity of projects and the proper functioning of the institutions, with a working meeting to be organized early next week to establish immediate priorities.

@Wallachian_Gazette

—🇧🇬 NEW: Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov has officially resigned after submitting a letter to the Prosecutorial College of the Supreme Judicial Council, withdrawing his consent to take up the position. The decision is effective immediately.

➡️ The resignation comes against the backdrop of numerous protests in recent years, including since the beginning of the year.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇬 Part of Sarafov's statement:

I made my decision some time ago, after careful consideration of all legal and institutional consequences. I postponed its announcement in order to prevent further destabilization of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria in the context of a prolonged and severe political crisis, which, I hope, as the majority of Bulgarian citizens have demonstrated, has found its successful resolution this time.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—NOTE: For 2-3 years he was Prosecutor General without legitimacy, and is very likely that he resigned because of Rumen Radev's victory in the elections.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—UPDATE: The Central Election Commission has announced 51,11% vote activity for the April elections.

ℹ️ Information reported by our source in Bulgaria.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇺/🇧🇬 NEW: Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has described the victory of the Rumen Radev-led "Progressive Bulgaria" coalition as a sign of strong public demand for change.

➡️ Zakharova stated that Moscow will judge the new leadership in Sofia by its "concrete steps" moving forward.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—❗️🇦🇱/🇺🇸 NEW: PM Edi Rama has stated that Albania is open to allowing the US military to launch operations from its territory against Iran, provided Washington supplies the country with an air defense system.

➡️ In an interview with Politico, Rama noted that Albania currently lacks its own air protection and would require security guarantees in exchange for staging rights.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—NOTE: However, he faces much more severe charges in Romania, where he is accused of treason and espionage for allegedly passing classified documents to the Belarusian KGB in exchange for money—crimes that carry a sentence of over 20 years.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇷🇴 Romania’s only round village quietly fades

➡️ Charlottenburg, Romania’s only circular village founded in 1771 by Danube Swabians in the Banat region, is now down to just 4–5 families, watched over by its last Swabian resident, 88‑year‑old Peter Trimper, as this unique piece of regional heritage slowly vanishes.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇧🇬 FACT: Contrary to popular belief, the Cyrillic alphabet didn't originate in Russia. It was actually developed in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 9th century!

🔗 Bulgaria

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🇨🇳/🇷🇸 NEW: Chinese furniture manufacturer JPAI Home is planning a major new investment in Serbia to expand its local production capacity.

➡️ The company, which has operated in Krnjesevci for several years, intends to build a new factory to strengthen its assembly and manufacturing of modern furniture for the European market.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English