The private shareholders in Bulgartabac (Bulgaria Investment Bank, Economic and Investment bank and Corporate Bank which altogether hold 10% of the 20% free float of the holding) are expected to finally land a representative in the management of the local tobacco monopoly at the General Meeting scheduled for October 7th 2003, after they were kept out of the boardroom by the general meeting held in July this year. At the October 7th meeting Bulgartabac is expected to switch to two-tier management system with the current board of directors becoming members of the supervisory board. Up to now the ruling Simeon II National Movement (SNM) and its coalition partner Muslim Movement for Rights and Freedom (MRF) did not reach an agreement on the new privatisation strategy for the holding. The economy minister Mrs Shouleva said the tobacco business must depart from the tobacco industry social problems. Agriculture Minister Mehmed Dikme disagreed. The only item Shouleva and Dikme agree is that Bulgartabac affiliates abroad must be sold as soon as possible, since most of them generate losses. MRF MPs share the opinion that selling Bulgartabac in pieces is different from restructuring the concern by splitting the tobacco production from the cigarette industry. Bulgartabac can be privatised through the stock exchange.