The big conversation about the future of people and business in Bulgaria is not happening. We hope that the public agenda will become the agenda of politicians.
This is what the chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Restaurants, Richard Alibegov, told FOCUS.
The priority for politicians is the talks on judicial reform and the election of a prosecutor general, while at the same time, a number of settlements in Bulgaria remain without electricity and water. The costs of electricity, water and fuels are constantly increasing, Alibegov pointed out.
"Business is worried due to a lack of predictability, which has not been there in the last four years", he added.
Therefore, the formation of a regular cabinet and the adoption of a state budget should happen as soon as possible, said Richard Alibegov.
"I hope that with the adoption of the budget, the reduced rate for restaurants and bread will also happen, and why not for goods from the small consumer basket and for certain medicines", he added.
Alibegov pointed out that the draft budget for 2025 includes several measures that directly affect the restaurant sector – the 20% increase in VAT for bakers and restaurateurs and the excise duty on alcohol and beer.
"In 2020, establishments had to close so that people wouldn't die. Now we are left with the impression that we have to save the Bulgarian economy, because four measures are aimed solely at this sector, given that we are talking about an 18 billion hole in the budget - a hole for which no finance minister in the last four years has taken any responsibility. All measures are aimed at collecting from the working class and especially from white business, because those in the gray sector don't care what the taxes are“, commented the chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Establishments.
Over 90% of establishments in Bulgaria are small and family businesses and they will suffer if measures are not taken. "But I am convinced that the state will take measures. "There should be regulations for electricity, gas, and the indiscriminate price hikes of fruits and vegetables," Alibegov added.