site.btaPoliticians Clash over Planned Water Price Hikes

Politicians clashed Thursday over a planned water price hike in most of the country from March. Lawmakers from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) accused the previous government and its allies of leaving a "time bomb" for the caretaker administration, while GERB-UDF said, as it announced upcoming widespread water price hikes, that it was inadmissible in areas with poor water service.

Speaking to journalists, CC-DB MPs Bogdan Bogdanov and Tatyana Sultanova-Siveva condemned the proposed hike, highlighting that the state Water and Sewerage Holding (ViK Holding) had allegedly failed to update prices for three months, despite a December 19, 2025, decision by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC). "This is another bomb left for Bulgarian citizens by the government of Boyko Borisov, Delyan Peevski, There Is Such a People and BSP-United Left," said Sultanova-Siveva.

Bogdanov added that the timing of the update, just days after the caretaker cabinet took office, undermines public trust and places undue responsibility on the new government. 

On the other hand, GERB-UDF MP Nikolay Nankov said that water companies have begun notifying customers about the new water rates. He cited potential hikes of over 13% in Kardzhali, 12% in Blagoevgrad, 9% in Ruse, and 8.8% in Veliko Tarnovo, with significant increases also in Shumen, Pleven, and Lovech despite the water rationing there. Nankov noted that the Ministry of Regional Development could instruct water companies not to implement the increases where service is substandard, and promised legislative changes to compensate consumers when water quality does not meet standards.

He criticized CC-DB for selectively accepting decisions of the independent regulator when convenient.