We will be a constructive and critical opposition that will not compromise with our pro-European orientation for the development of the country and with our fight for a working and fair justice system. We will judge you on the cases. This was stated by Nikolay Denkov, chairman of the parliamentary group "Continuing the Change - Democratic Bulgaria", during the debate on the proposed draft cabinet with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, BTA reports.
A year ago, we reported a successful 2023. and we were preparing for a rotation of the Prime Minister in order to consolidate the successes and accelerate the development of Bulgaria. This momentum of development was abruptly broken, Denkov said at the beginning of his speech.
GERB left the rotation negotiations without completing them, and Bulgaria was once again left without a regular government. Today, after two more parliamentary elections for 250 million leva and years of lost time, after seven unsuccessful mandates of GERB, they are on their way to take the eighth remedial exam and form a regular government. The price of this lost historical time is serious. We do not have an adopted budget for 2025, on which all payments to people and businesses depend, Denkov added.
According to him, foreign investments collapsed three times in 2024, and political uncertainty has raised the question of the country's sustainable European development. All Bulgarians need a regular government. Therefore, we will closely monitor his specific actions, he added.
It is very important for us to return to the trajectory of accelerated development with care for people and business, which includes the following priorities - adopting a balanced budget with realistic parameters, without exceeding the deficit of three percent and the limit of 40 percent for the expenditure part as a share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Denkov said.
Among the priorities, he refers to continuing the policy of accelerated income growth of all communities - up to 70 percent of the average European level and reducing inequality, which also includes an increase in the salaries of teachers, doctors, and health specialists, as voted by the National Assembly. Completing the reforms and investments under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, which will unlock nearly 10 billion leva for the next two years. Continuing the process of digitizing administrative processes and reducing the administrative burden, increasing access to quality education and healthcare.
Denkov also indicated as a priority the continuation of the state's pro-European course, with strengthening the rule of law and state institutions and regulators through transparent and open competitions.
In the coming months, we will initiate and support all actions that would fulfill the above priorities with substance, he added.
Tsoncho Ganev from "Vazrazhdane" reminded Denkov that in the last year alone, foreign direct investment, according to BNB data, has decreased by 65 percent. "Only two weeks ago, your shameful coalition was negotiating with Borisov. You are no different from Peevski, no different from all of Borisov's shameful political crutches," Ganev commented and added that "they are even worse". "You carry the moral decay of your entire liberalism", he said.
Denkov pointed out in his rejoinder that some people think that "with malicious insinuations and continuous lies they will convince the Bulgarian people to support them".