site.btaUPDATED Progressive Bulgaria Submits Three Proposals for National Audit Office Audit of Public Finances in Key Areas

Progressive Bulgaria has submitted three draft parliamentary decisions calling on the National Audit Office to conduct an audit of the state of Bulgaria's public finances in several key areas for the 2020-2026 period, Konstantin Prodanov, Chair of Parliament's Budget and Finance Committee, said at a briefing in the National Assembly on Friday.

Prodanov said the proposals fulfil the party's election pledge to carry out a comprehensive fiscal review and establish a clear picture of the country's public finances.

"Every serious reform and sustainable economic policy requires a stable and institutionally verified starting point," he said.

Stefan Belchev, Chair of Parliament's Economic Policy, Investment and Industry Committee, said the first proposed audit concerns the consolidated fiscal programme. It is intended to assess the long-term impact of legislative changes on budget revenue, expenditure and the fiscal balance, including spending on personnel, automatic indexation, capital expenditure and decisions to expand the public administration. It will also examine why revenue policies failed to keep pace with rising expenditure.

The second audit would examine the Public Social Insurance budget, with the aim of assessing its long-term sustainability and identifying inefficiencies. Belchev said the review would not affect acquired pension rights but would examine whether non-contributory payments, including COVID-19 pension supplements, have distorted the Public Social Insurance budget and undermined the rights of insured persons.

The third audit would examine the financial management of the Road Infrastructure Agency. According to Belchev, it will determine whether completed and certified road construction and repair works were omitted from the agency's financial reporting and whether expenditure was systematically deferred to subsequent budget years. Auditors will also review public procurement procedures, including contracts for guardrails and vegetation clearance.

Belchev said the audits would help expose hidden fiscal liabilities and provide the basis for a stable, transparent fiscal framework. He added that they are expected to be completed by September 30.

Progressive Bulgaria said Parliament would hold hearings with National Audit Office officials after the reports are submitted and would monitor the implementation of their recommendations.

Responding to questions from reporters, the MPs rejected suggestions that the audit proposals were intended as a public relations exercise linked to the draft 2026 State Budget.