site.btaVice President Warns Proposed 2026 State Budget Is Threat to Bulgarians, to Eurozone

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Vice President Iliana Iotova said that the 2026 draft state budget can be a threat to all Bulgarians and the national economy, as "it only contains tables that shift funds from one pocket to the other". Iotova warned that the budget can also pose a threat to the euro area.

The Vice President stated that nobody wants this version of the budget, neither those in power, nor the Finance Minister [Temenuzhka Petkova], nor the Prime Minister [Rosen Zhelyazkov], and added: "Otherwise, how can we explain the fact that, to date, we have not heard a single argument in defence of this budget from either of them?"

Iotova criticized the executive for failing to find a solution to the rising consumer prices. She added that Bulgaria is one of the most expensive EU Member States to live in, with the second highest number of working people at risk of poverty, and with average income far below that of the average for the EU.

Asked whether she is considering running in the next presidential elections, Iotova said that she will think about it when the time comes.