site.btaDemocratic Bulgaria Proposes Nine Reform Bills to Address Fiscal Challenges

Reforms are needed to address Bulgaria's fiscal challenges rather than simply discussing the budget deficit, Democratic Bulgaria Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov told reporters on Thursday, outlining nine draft laws submitted by the coalition.

The proposals include the gradual retirement of pensioners from the Interior Ministry system, risk assessments of the medical disability certification system to enable a review of fraudulent disability decisions, centralized recruitment procedures for civil servants, and measures to reduce sick leave in the public administration, Bozhanov said.

He noted that the fiscal measures had been submitted as separate bills, although some could also be incorporated into the State Budget Act. Another key proposal is the gradual introduction of social security contributions for civil servants, with employees expected to cover 2% of their contributions this year, he added. According to Bozhanov, many of the measures could be implemented immediately, while the retirement of pensioners from the Interior Ministry system would be phased in.

Commenting on the replacement of Lukoil's special commercial administrator, Rumen Spetsov, Bozhanov said the person appointed to the post did not appear to have the necessary qualifications and experience to manage the refinery. He added that the appointee was the son of a former Movement for Rights and Freedoms parliamentary candidate, while a former GERB MP had been appointed to head the agency previously led by him.

Bozhanov also commented on the detention of former Bulgarian Development Bank CEO Stoyan Mavrodiev in Belgrade, describing it as long overdue. He said Mavrodiev had been wanted since 2024 and that signals concerning him had been submitted even before then.

Bozhanov said it was right that Mavrodiev had been detained and expressed hope that the law would be applied to him in full.