site.btaMiddle East Crisis Measures Are a Good Start but Insufficient, Continue the Change Leader Vassilev Says

The caretaker Government's package of measures addressing the consequences of the Middle East crisis is a meaningful step in the right direction, but it needs to be expanded and upgraded, Continue the Change (CC) leader Assen Vassilev said in Plovdiv, Southcentral Bulgaria, on Saturday.

Speaking at the launch of a youth party structure, Vassilev warned that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, the crisis could deepen and reach levels similar to those seen at the start of Russia's war against Ukraine.

In such a scenario, broader measures would be needed to protect household incomes and support key economic sectors, he said. According to Vassilev, the increased support for businesses facing high electricity costs is not sufficient to curb inflation.

He called for the restoration of some of the anti-crisis measures introduced in 2022-2023 by the Kiril Petkov government, including covering 100% rather than 50% of the difference in electricity prices for businesses, with a cap of EUR 100 per megawatt-hour. Measures related to fuel prices should also be expanded, he added, noting that both steps could be implemented even under a caretaker Government.

Vassilev also stressed that when drafting the State budget in June and July, priority should be given to policies that ensure incomes grow ahead of inflation to prevent a decline in living standards.