site.btaUPDATED GERB-UDF and TISP to Only Support Budget Extension in Parliament

GERB-UDF and There Is Such a People (TISP) will support only the budget extension, GERB-UDF Deputy Floor Leader Denitsa Sacheva and TISP Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov said during a joint press conference in Parliament on Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, when voting on the agenda for the National Assembly, MPs included voting on the budget extension, the first readings of the revised draft budgets of the National Health Insurance Fund and the 2026 state budget. After the break and revote, the items on the regular revised budgets were dropped from the agenda.

Sacheva told reporters that GERB-UDF and TISP supported the request of the BSP - United Left to review the revised state budget, because for the Left, the adoption of a regular budget is a consistent political priority. She said: "Because starting January 1, there will be no increase in the salaries of doctors and teachers, and 400,000 families will not be able to receive their child allowances on time, as there will not be enough revenue to cover the increased amounts. Over 100,000 personal assistants to people with disabilities will also experience delays in payment, 750,000 people with disabilities are also 'thrown' into a situation where they worry about what will happen to their money. Any explanations that this money will be calculated and given to them at some point in the future are hardly enough for them." Sacheva argued that MPs have an obligation to hear the voice of these people, even if they are unable to go out in the streets, "just as we heard the voice of those who come out in the streets, who constantly challenge us in the social media," she added.

Sacheva criticized Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria for failing to look for ways to deescalate the situation and for failing to show responsible political behaviour. She pointed to CC Chair Assen Vassilev as a person who "continues to try to blackmail MPs and to privatize protests that are far from being in his defence and in which he is far from being a leader".

GERB-UDF and TISP stated that nearly 70% of the state budget is dedicated to wages, social and health payments. They accused Vassilev of spreading confusion among Bulgarians when it comes to their incomes.

Yordanov reported that his party backed the old state budget, because: "Following the resignation of the cabinet as a result of the protests, many Bulgarian citizens are wondering what will happen without a budget or with a budget extension. Only then did questions arise about what is worse and what is better." He stated that the revised version of the budget got support from trade unions and employers.

The TISP MP continued: "That is why we supported the BSP, so that you could see who does not care about the people in the country, about teachers, doctors, pensioners, and how once again CC-DB pounced and put on an extremely entertaining show in front of you to show how outraged they are. What happened is wonderful. Now no one from CC-DB will be able to say that they are not responsible, because this budget had mechanisms for a smooth transition to the euro, sufficient financial mechanisms to avoid any shocks. And if something like that happens, the responsibility lies with CC-DB and the people who created this chaos – Assen Vassilev, [CC-DB MP] Ivaylo Mirchev, [CC-DB Deputy Floor Leader] Bozhidar Bozhanov, [President] Rumen Radev."