site.btaPresident Iotova: Cutting Vacant Positions, Freezing Budgets of Public Institutions Should Be Measures Against Bulgaria's Fiscal Deficit

Cutting vacant positions and freezing the budgets of public institutions should be among the measures to address the country's deficit, President Iliana Iotova said Wednesday in Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria.

Iotova noted that the deficit was clearly not accumulated in recent months alone and questioned its actual level when Bulgaria entered the eurozone process in 2025. She added that the European Commission's assessment would provide recommendations for concrete measures, and stated that some of the steps may be drastic and will require public solidarity.

She expressed confidence that the government would prioritize support for the most vulnerable groups and stressed that there are no plans to cut pensions or change Bulgaria's maternity policy, which she described as one of the best in Europe. A broader review is needed to identify the biggest weaknesses and to determine where budget reserves may exist, she said, adding that this includes spending on major regional development projects.

Iotova was among the official guests at the 17th International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition, Hemus 2026, which takes place in Plovdiv from June 3 to 6.