Rumen Radev: Overcoming the demographic crisis in Bulgaria is impossible without breaking corruption and building institutions capable of defending the rule of law and justice

Overcoming the demographic crisis in Bulgaria requires breaking corruption and building institutions capable of defending the rule of law and justice. This is a mandatory basis for the positive and sustainable development of any society. This was stated by President Rumen Radev at the summit on demographic issues in Budapest. The head of state participated in the high-level forum "Family is the key to security" at the invitation of the President of Hungary, Katalin Novak. The Bulgarian head of state highly appreciated Hungary's consistent policy of supporting young families and promoting the birth rate, which in the long term has the potential to deal with the negative demographic trends characteristic of European countries.

People are the most valuable capital of any country, and whatever financial, green and digital policies we propose and develop, they must be subject to the conscious understanding that demographic processes determine the future of societies, stressed Rumen Radev. Therefore, according to the president, any demographic policy should support young people to create families and have children, simultaneously with their professional and social affirmation.

The head of state emphasized that there are two opposite demographic trends in the world - rapid population growth in a number of developing countries, which report a high percentage of young people and high birth rates, and that of much lower birth rates and an aging population in developed countries. "Europe is facing an unprecedented demographic situation that raises many questions for its economic and social systems and from the point of view of security," pointed out Rumen Radev. The President added that this demographic trend is putting the Old Continent in front of a huge migratory pressure and putting European societies in front of the challenges of preserving their Christian traditions and culture, for which Europe still seems unprepared.

The levels of birth, death and emigration are the main factors that measure the demographic processes, but they are directly dependent on many political, economic and social factors and they should also be taken into account when preparing the demographic policies, emphasized Rumen Radev. The head of state pointed to our country as an example, where the population has decreased by 850,000 people in the last 10 years, which is the sharpest population decline in the modern history of Bulgaria. Nevertheless, according to the indicators of birth and death rates, our country fits into the average levels in Europe, but the huge difference between Bulgaria and other European countries is in the level of emigration. Unlike Bulgaria, other EU member states not only have very low levels of emigration, but also attract many young people from Bulgaria and Eastern European countries, which further worsens their birth rates.

"This is a double loss for Bulgaria, as our country has invested in the education of these young people, and instead of them investing their knowledge and skills in our country, they contribute to the development of others that are not only richer, but also more efficiently functioning countries," said Rumen Radev.

As factors for counteracting the demographic crisis, the president singled out adaptation of financial incentives for raising children, support for young families who have problems with reproduction, support for single parents, free kindergartens, tax breaks for large families with responsible parenting, and others.

In his speech at the forum, the president emphasized that many of the young people in our country identify as the reason for their choice to develop professionally and create their families abroad not only with the higher financial rewards, but with the functioning of the rule of law and protection of justice, the good functioning of social and health systems and with societies based on clear rules and responsibilities. The head of state stated that he is optimistic about the future of Bulgaria, a country with a rich history and cultural traditions, which can succeed in breaking the negative demographic trends by building a fairer society and responsible institutions that will create much more favorable conditions for the return of many of the young Bulgarians who today live abroad.

At the beginning of the high-level session, the world-renowned clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson highlighted the fundamental role of the family both in the personal and value development of parents, and in the transmission of their experiences, morals and values to their children. Peterson emphasized that the conscious choice of the individual to take responsibility for creating a family and dedicating himself to the upbringing of children contributes to the formation of societies based on sound moral values and the reproduction of cultural models that can withstand modern challenges. As such, Jordan Peterson singled out attempts to absolutize individualism and impose the notion that a society can exist without moral and ethical norms and have relationships devoid of responsibility and respect for family, children, and community.