site.btaGERB-UDF to Back Budget Extension Bill in Its Original Form, Floor Leader Borissov Says

GERB-UDF parliamentary group will support the budget extension bill in the form submitted by the caretaker Government, to prevent disruption of state functions and avoid political accusations, said GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov in a live address to MPs from the formation on his Facebook profile on Sunday.

Borissov noted that, in his view, the caretaker Government is not seeking a parliamentary majority and aims to later shift responsibility onto other parties if the budget is not approved. “We must act responsibly towards the State, institutions, and Bulgarian citizens,” he said.

According to Borisov, GERB will back the bill “letter by letter,” exactly as submitted by the caretaker Finance Minister. He added that this approach would remove arguments that the party is obstructing the adoption of the provisional budget. He stressed that it is the caretaker Government’s responsibility to secure a parliamentary majority for the bill.

GERB MP Temenuzhka Petkova also said the bill should be supported to ensure the normal functioning of the State. She noted that certain issues could be discussed within the parliamentary Budget Committee, but emphasized that the correct approach is to approve the law as proposed.

Former prime minister Rosen Zhelyazkov commented that current institutional actions should focus on ensuring fair, transparent, and honest elections. He said that support for the budget extension would demonstrate basic political consensus and responsibility in the pre-election period. Zhelyazkov also warned that between the first and second readings of the bill, multiple amendments could be proposed that might change its original intent.

Borissov urged GERB MPs to refrain from proposing such changes and to support the bill without amendments. He said the party will authorize the Budget Committee Chair, Delyan Dobrev, to uphold this position, and GERB’s support will be given solely for the text in its original form.