The situation with the budget is quite tense. My forecast is that in the 2025 budget we will not be able to enter deficits, even with a 3% deficit. I think it will be greater than 3%. Currently, the deficit without exotic ideas that are being sought is somewhere between 5% and 6%. It must be halved in order to enter the Maastricht criteria. This was stated to BNT by Simeon Dyankov - former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
"In my opinion, this is impossible. Why is it impossible? Because you notice that all the ideas come from increasing revenues, not from reducing expenses".
Expenses are growing and revenues must be found to match, and this is very difficult, because expenses have increased sharply over the last 2.3 years, said Simeon Dyankov.
He hopes not to resort to the idea of "tax amnesty", although in his words it alone opens a hole of 5 billion leva.
"I hope we will not see this idea again in this budget. I do not see a meaningful way, even with statistics, to reach the coveted 3%".
There will be some attempts, but in the end the coalition government will say "we can't do it this year", added the former finance minister.