We propose 20% VAT for everyone, except for baby food manufacturers and book publishers. When I say everyone, I also mean restaurateurs. There is no longer a pandemic and the country is moving forward. We will offer a concession and lease for major roads such as highways. This is something practical in European countries. Assen Vassilev allowed Bulgaria to return to the mid-90s. If he had continued to be in power, he would have allowed Bulgaria to be in debt for 80 billion in a few years. This is a Greek scenario.
This was announced to BTV by the MP from the ITN Stanislav Balabanov about the measures that his party will propose in the draft budget for 2025.
We are "for" the eurozone, but when the country is ready. Currently, we have a gap of 18 million leva. It is good to ask for a convergence report when we are ready. If we asked for it without being ready, the EC had a chance to tell us that we are not going to miss another 2 years anyway. The Minister of Finance will ask for such a report when we are ready. As far as I understand, this will be at the beginning of February, he announced.
Ms. Petkova acted honestly by sharing with the Bulgarian society that we are in a difficult financial situation. In order for Bulgaria to cope, we will have to take several hundred million from the state reserve. In the first three months, the state will have a deficit of about 4 billion leva. The future budget will be tighter. More sensible financiers will make sure that the state moves forward, he also said. The protests on the square made sense in 2020, to try to change the situation in Bulgaria. You remember that they were against the then Prosecutor General, who tried to enter an independent institution like the presidency. GERB was overthrown. But history shows that the country had 8 elections in recent years. People had the opportunity to come out and change the situation, Balabanov commented on how GERB has become an acceptable partner for them now.
In the last 5 elections, the first political force has been GERB. Now that the country is in a severe financial collapse, there were two ways - a government, despite the differences of the political parties, or now I could sit comfortably in this studio and say - yes, ITN sent the country to another election and we will spend another 100 million. leva, he continued.
GERB has now, after extremely difficult negotiations, taken responsibility and stood behind a specific agreement. It also includes a regular budget, which society expects, he pointed out.