site.btaDeputy PM Praises 2026 Draft Budget as the Most Socially Oriented in the Past 20 Years

Deputy Prime Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) National Council Chair Atanas Zafirov described the draft budget for 2026 as "the most socially oriented in the last two decades", the BSP press service said on Sunday. He praised the left for its efforts that have ultimately ensured income growth, an increase in the minimum wage, an increase in maternity benefits for the second year, and an effective package of measures for children and families.

The Deputy Prime Minister was speaking at the regional meeting of Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft, where he presented an analysis of the challenges facing the government and the role of the left in stabilizing the country. He stated: "These were the quiet battles of the left. We didn't make a fuss—we worked."

On Saturday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said Razgrad, Northeastern Bulgaria, that this draft budget is not the best one, but it is one that is possible to implement. He continued: "If we had to characterize it, it is neither liberal nor conservative, neither left nor right. This is the budget that should allow all macroeconomic indicators to be reflected, so that Bulgaria can smoothly transition to the euro without severe inflationary shocks and without reducing incomes, which must outpace inflation."

In his speech to Bulgarian Social Democracy – EuroLeft, Zafirov said that the Cabinet had inherited a "cascade of crises", which included problems with water supply, the consequences of natural disasters, and the impact of international sanctions on the energy sector. "This cabinet did not get 100 days of tolerance. From day one, we were solving other people's long-neglected problems," he added.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, despite the onslaught of constant criticism from the media, the government and the left achieved results, which include the bringing under control the water crisis in the country's most affected areas, conducting mass inspections following the deadly flood in Elenite, responding swiftly to the Lukoil case by adopting urgent legislative amendments and by appointing a special commercial administrator. Zafirov concluded: "This is the opposite of what the opposition is saying—the government sees the problems and reacts in a timely manner."