site.btaGovernment Balances Best of Left- and Right-Wing Policies, 2026 Budget Proves It, Deputy PM Zafirov Says

The government has successfully combined the best elements of left- and right-wing policies, and the 2026 state budget reflects that balance, Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov said in a bTV interview. He expressed confidence that the government will serve its full term.

Zafirov described the budget as realistic and non-populist, emphasizing that during crises the focus should first be on people, especially vulnerable groups, mothers with small children, and pensioners.

He noted that maternity benefits for the second year will increase by nearly 15%, from BGN 780 to BGN 900, and that the pension contribution rate will rise by 2% from 2026 to ensure the system’s sustainability. The maximum insurance threshold will also increase by BGN 200, he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister added that gambling taxes will go up by 5%, and the dividend tax will double from 5% to 10%.

Commenting on the recent change of the National Assembly’s chair, Zafirov said it was a politically motivated but essentially technical move with strong symbolic value.