Did the Minister of Finance Asen Vasilev meet with the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab on June 22, 2023, to tell him that Bulgaria will adopt the digital euro to control its citizens? No, that's not true: On June 22, 2023, the Minister of Finance was with other Bulgarian governmental officials to participate in a ceremony for the Bulgarian Navy in Varna. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that Asen Vassilev has not expressed such opinions, neither to Klaus Schwab nor to anyone else.
The claim appeared in a TikTok video (archived here) published on Sept 7, 2023, and translated by Lead Stories staff from Bulgarian to English, it opened:
Digital slavery is coming! Asen Vasilev has said the following before Klaus Schwab on 06.22.2023! "Bulgaria will adopt the digital euro. It is useful for us, because we will know what every Bulgarian eats, what he likes buying and even when he's going to have sex! By putting them under such control, they won't even be able to oppose us anymore! If a person starts criticizing us, his money will be blocked on the following day! Thus their freedom will be destroyed! Now everyone makes money in a different way, but with the introduction of the digital euro, only we, the chosen elite, will have control over their destiny." These are the words of Asen Vasilev! Share this with everyone! Say no to the euro and the digital currency!
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Fri Sept 22 19:17:25 2023 UTC)
This claim has been widely circulated on social media in Bulgaria.
The press center of the Ministry of Finance confirmed to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) that Finance Minister Asen Vassilev did not meet with Klaus Schwab on June 22, 2023. On that day, the Minister attended the keel laying of the second patrol vessel for the Bulgarian Navy in Varna together with the Minister of Defense, Minister of Innovation and Growth, the Chief of Defense, Commander of the Navy Rear and other officials. The Ministry of Finance also confirmed the following:
Asen Vasilev did not express opinions like those in the Facebook post, neither to Klaus Schwab nor to anyone else.
(Source: BNR screenshot taken on Fri Sept 22 19:04:30 2023 UTC)
The digital euro is still in its project phase. The central bank digital currency will not replace cash payments but will provide users with additional payment methods.
Lead Stories has previously debunked the claim that Cash will completely be replaced by digital currency to control people here.
