site.btaEuro's Introduction Determines the Fate of All Bulgarians, VP Iotova Says

The introduction of the euro determines the fate of all Bulgarians from now on, Vice President Iliana Iotova said at the National Petropavlovski Folk Art Festival near the Sts Peter and Paul Monastery in Lyaskovets (Northcentral Bulgaria) on Saturday. The Vice President commented on topical issues in front of journalists.

Iotova said that she did not expect any surprises, even less - negative ones, as in her opinion the decision on Bulgaria's entry into the euro area was political and it follows its procedure from now on.

"What is important is what we will do in Bulgaria because the signals in recent days are more than alarming. You saw the statement of the National Revenue Agency that in just two weeks prices have jumped by some 40%," Iotova said. "I do not approve of these suggestions that are being made, including at high levels of government, to turn people against each other, small traders against large traders, and people against all traders. What is important is how Bulgaria and the Bulgarian authorities will exercise their control against all this that is happening. I personally believe that we should support the initiatives of all those who propose special legislation so that all control bodies can be armed with the appropriate tools and mechanisms," the Vice President added.

About the Government's statement that it is starting measures against price speculation, Iotova said that for now this remains only at the level of an announcement. "I see a lot of talk, thanks to the fact that the President raised the issue with the proposal for a referendum, everyone seems to have stepped up and started explaining to the Bulgarian citizens what measures will be taken, but so far they are only explanations. We do not see anything real at this stage. Every one of us goes to the shops and sees how much bread already costs, how the price of oil is rising. Not to mention that the experience of other countries shows that there are areas in which these figures are more elusive, whereas their increase is much more sustainable, for example, in the services sector. That is why I say that, apart from the talk and the suggestions and the political attacks, including against our institution, this energy should go in another direction and we should make sure that Bulgarian citizens go through this ordeal as easily as possible, because the introduction of the euro determines the fate of all of us from now on."