site.btaFormer Finance Minister Petkova Unaware of How Deficit Reached 7.4%, Says No Data Was Manipulated

Former Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova told reporters in Parliament on Wednesday that she does not know how the deficit reached 7.4%. She was adamant that no data had been manipulated.

Petkova said that it is clear that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev has causes for concern, considering the data he presented earlier Wednesday. During a briefing at the Council of Ministers, Donev said: "Reducing the deficit from 7.4% to 3% is possible and depends on the measures that will be proposed in the State Budget Act and that the government will take."

Commenting on Donev's statement that there are EUR 2.2 billion in unpaid liabilities that have been "hidden away in drawers", Petkova said that within the government, which was formed with GERB's mandate, no such liabilities exist.

She said that Progressive Bulgaria has a responsibility to advance the reforms and policy measures endorsed by Bulgarian voters. "Complaining is the easiest part of the task, but now comes the time for real action," she said. She added that the actions that her Ministry undertook were entirely within the framework of the law and in the interest of the public.