site.btaPrime Minister: Budget Procedure Isn't Blocked, Draft Expected to Enter Parliament This Week

“The budget process cannot be blocked, as it is an autonomous right of the government and the National Assembly. Meetings with employer organizations are ongoing, and a session of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation is expected to take place this week. I hope the budget will be submitted to the National Assembly this week,” said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at a news briefing on the sidelines of a conference on “Artificial Intelligence and IT Auditing in the Protection of Public Resources.”

“The government has the right to submit a draft budget, and the Parliament has the right to approve it. The tripartite dialogue is important for coordination and achieving social balance, but it cannot put restrictions on the government,” Zhelyazkov added.

He stressed that discussions involve an exchange of views, but social dialogue requires balancing the interests of different parties. “This budget is the first in euros and must address the public’s concerns - avoiding high inflation and income reductions, while ensuring that the state continues to invest in infrastructure,” the Prime Minister said.

When asked where the funds would come from, the Prime Minister clarified that the budget’s structure provides the answers. “If certain revenue sources need to be removed, alternatives must be identified; this is part of the conversation with employers,” Zhelyazkov stated.

Regarding the national debt, he assured that there is no risk of entering a debt spiral. “As long as the debt remains around 30% of GDP, there is no danger. The reference value is 60%, but we will not allow ourselves to reach that level,” the Prime Minister said.

Zhelyazkov added that the government’s plans to “decouple” the minimum wage from the average wage and from public sector salaries will find their legislative solutions next year. “The budget is conservative to ensure stability and to allow reforms to be implemented gradually, without causing social tension,” the Prime Minister said.

Regarding taxes, he commented that the proposed changes to the dividend tax do not constitute an increase and do not change the tax structure.