site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Donchev: Dialogue with Trade Unions and Employers Hasn't Stopped

“In recent weeks, dialogue with both the trade unions and employers hasn’t stopped. Unfortunately, it was not in a tripartite format,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev in Plovdiv, where he is attending a forum on the economic development of Southern Bulgaria, organized by the 24 Chasa media platform.

“The negotiations began one hour ago. The art is in finding a new point of balance. A budget reflects complex social relations. Figuratively speaking, how much the state takes from people and how much it gives in the form of remuneration for labor or social assistance. If there are disputes, they are within about 1-1.5% of GDP, and I hope that with the restart of the dialogue with trade unions and employers, this point of balance will be found soon,” Donchev said.

He added that in recent years Bulgaria has been a good place for doing business, with low debt that continues to be one of the lowest in the European Union.

Donchev responded to a statement made by BSP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, regarding social payments, saying there are no grounds for concern. “I do not see how, in the situation we are generally in, social rights could be taken away. The question rather is how ambitious we should be from now on regarding new social payments. At the same time, we must preserve Bulgaria’s competitiveness as a place for doing business. The state should not obstruct the business or weigh it down, because wealth is created by a functioning economy. It is not created by state institutions, nor is it created by social payments,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He also commented on the state of the coalition, saying that such a complex coalition is under constant risk, as no one is concealing the contradictions between the partners. “It would be absurd for someone to tell you that there is no contradiction and no permanent risk. What keeps this coalition together is whether there is an alternative. If something is perceived as having no alternative, then we are in a dangerous situation. Look at all the parties that are in opposition. Imagine a coalition government between them. Is there an alternative? You can answer that question yourselves,” Donchev said.