site.btaPM Says Government Plans No Tax Hike

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said here Tuesday that the government has no plans to raise the taxes and social insurance contributions. He was speaking to reporters in Burgas, and was asked about any intentions for raising taxes, particularly the VAT. 

"Pay attention who is saying that [that taxes will be raised] and think whether it is not a fabrication. The government - if it ever intended to increase the tax and social insurance burden - would have said so clearly. This is done first via Cabinet acts, is communicated, then is proposed to the legislators and incorporated in the next-year budget," said Zhelyazkov. The government has done none of these, he added.

He stressed, though, that the government will enforce financial discipline and aim for a balanced budget.