site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Warns Government’s Anti-Inflation Measures Could Push Prices Higher

The anti-inflation measures proposed by the ruling majority create misleading public expectations and could ultimately lead to additional price increases, MP Martin Dimitrov of the Democratic Bulgaria parliamentary group told reporters after a meeting of the National Assembly’s ad hoc Budget and Finance Committee.

According to Dimitrov, the public expects the measures to have an immediate anti-inflationary effect, but none of the proposals will come into force in the short term because additional regulations and methodologies still need to be adopted.

“False expectations were created, and society will be very disappointed when it realizes there are no effective anti-inflation measures,” Dimitrov said.

He argued that the proposals contain “hidden price controls” and “hidden price caps” that would create pressure and additional costs for businesses, which in turn could trigger further price hikes.

Democratic Bulgaria has proposed alternative measures focused on fuel prices, as the coalition believes that this is where the main source of inflationary pressure originates.

“That is where action should have started in order to prevent inflation from spreading to other sectors,” Dimitrov said.

He also expressed concern that the government was heading in the “wrong direction” and added that the only measure likely to become operational in June or July is the proposal for a website that would publish daily information on price changes in supermarket chains.