site.btaVazrazhdane Invites Leading Economists to Evaluate Eurozone Risks

The political party Vazrazhdane called for three internationally recognised economists and financial experts to analyse possible risks and benefits of Bulgaria joining the eurozone, Viktor Papazov, a party representative and chair of the initiative committee calling for a referendum on the issue, said on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Papazov said that the request for the three experts – Jacques de Larosiere, John Greenwood, and Steve Hanke – to prepare a pro bono analysis had been submitted as a proposal to the Committee on Budget and Finance, but it had not been discussed for over two months.

"That is why today, as chair of the initiative committee for holding a referendum and as a representative of Vazrazhdane, I sent a letter to the Presidential Administration, inviting President Rumen Radev to ask these internationally recognized economists to carry out a risk analysis, Papazov said.

"The government is working to bring Bulgaria into the eurozone. If the Bulgarian economy is not prepared, this could cause poverty and serious issues. I hope the President will respond and share the invitation with this group of economists, Papazov added. I also hope he will keep his promise to the media that an analysis is needed, Papazov said.

Also on Wednesday, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said: "We would prefer to unpeg the lev from the euro and link it to the US dollar to preserve Bulgaria’s financial independence." Kostadinov added the party has demonstrated how to lead independent policy, sending delegations to the capitals of two of the leading countries, referring to the delegations that Vazrazhdane recently sent to Moscow and Washington DC.