site.btaPM Stresses Importance of Tripartite Cooperation Council Meeting against Political Climate

Today’s meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) is extremely important due to the high public expectations and the current political climate, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said at the opening of the NCTC, on Monday at the Council of Ministers. The agenda includes discussions on the draft budgets of the National Health Insurance Fund and the Public Social Insurance for 2026, as well as the draft state budget for next year.

Zhelyazkov noted that this is the third attempt this year to reach agreement within the framework of the tripartite dialogue, the first was successful, the second was not. He expressed hope that the current meeting would lead to a consensus on the 2026 draft budgets.

Zhelyazkov said that paradoxically, although the budget framework for next year is one of the most debated topics, it has also left the impression of being the least discussed in depth. He added that the proposed budget must be possible not only for the parliamentary majority but also for the social partners, in order to meet social and economic goals, particularly in the first half of 2026.

He stated that it is crucial for the project to be endorsed by the NCTC, rather than merely “acceptable” to social partners. “This is not a political fig leaf for the future of the cabinet. It is necessary so that we enter 2026 with a budget adopted by the National Assembly, supported as broadly as possible,” he said.

Zhelyazkov warned that the coming year will be challenging, as it will require safeguarding households’ purchasing power in a complex international and domestic environment. He acknowledged that the cabinet bears the political responsibility for previously seeking primarily the support of the parliamentary majority rather than social partners.

He advised that if no agreement is reached, the government will be forced to propose an extension of the 2025 State Budget, a move that “would create a real impossibility to address the challenges ahead”.

Zhelyazkov described the draft budget as balanced, neither extravagant nor overly restrictive, and emphasized its social focus. He highlighted measures aimed at protecting vulnerable groups as well as a wide range of working and non-working citizens, including provisions related to the planned smooth introduction of the euro at the beginning of 2026. “I expect clear and unequivocal positions from you. It is time for all of us to be frank, open and honest,” he told the representatives of the social partners.

Zhelyazkov stressed that the tripartite dialogue must be open “even in directions that may not appear politically convenient”. He said the social partners represent “the voice of reason” in society, and therefore it is important to hear both those who support and those who oppose the government’s proposals. Zhelyazkov stated that Bulgaria faces significant challenges in the coming years, arising from the situation in Europe and the world, and emphasized that institutions have no moral, political or human right to ignore these developments or “abandon ship” at such a critical moment.