Radiation levels in our country are normal after the Chernobyl attack. There is no reason to worry. The incident is unpleasant. We hope that this horrific conflict will end as soon as possible. This was stated on the air of "Face to Face" on bTV by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov.
He explained the postponement of the submission of the 2025 budget by one week: "The 2025-2028 framework, which is the plan-account that must be submitted to the EC, is not ready. The budget is almost ready, only the finest adjustments remain. I hope that on Tuesday at the SSU we will adopt the final version and submit it.“
According to him, the most controversial issues are in the BSP ministries and they are about the indexation of pensions according to the Swiss rule and the investment programs in the municipalities. “There is a 500 million deficit in the MRDPW under these programs. These funds must be found to pay the municipalities. There was a dispute at the beginning about the increases in the army and in the Ministry of Interior. The commitments that the state has made to certain categories of employees must be fulfilled. My signature is behind the salaries in the Ministry of Interior. There is no change in the tax system and there will be none – 20% VAT remains for restaurateurs and bread.“
“Such a type of government functions with compromises. If someone imagines that participating in such a complex management format is banging on the table – this is not an approach. The reactors at “Belene“ are an example of this – someone has to compromise. Our arguments are strong. We do not believe that “Belene“ is a closed project and should not be so. We would not compromise with the national interest – however, it is a broad concept. How exactly do we help Ukraine with these reactors? Why not help Ukraine with humanitarian aid, with infrastructure aid, but we have to deprive ourselves of our national asset? The Ukrainians can help us put the Russian reactors in “Belene“, suggested the acting chairman of the BSP.
Zafirov is categorical that the National Assembly should not turn into a court: “Regarding the declaration of a sanitary cordon – I think that we have given clear enough signals about the commitments we have made, but turning the National Assembly into an endless committee on every issue – hardly corresponds to the expectations of Bulgarian society. Those who call us BSP - New Beginning, should first look in the mirror and then look for a problem where there is none. I do not accept such a qualification.“
According to him, the appointment of people in the second echelon is not going at the pace that the ruling party wants: “We must be careful in selecting people. If we now allow ourselves personnel mistakes, the credit of trust in the cabinet will be exhausted. These people must have expert qualities, but also a political profile, so that it is clear that there is political power behind them. If we had not formed this difficult government, the alternative was clear - early parliamentary elections. What was worse was that we would go to new elections with the same cabinet, the same prime minister, the same way of elections. We didn't have any particularly big alternatives before us.“
Zafirov also commented on the upcoming elections in the BSP: “In addition to opponents, we are above all comrades and partners. The media interest in the party is good. I voted to abolish direct elections. I went through different phases - from full support for direct elections to serious doubts about its expediency. Both methods have their advantages. The possibilities for manipulation are greater with direct elections. If I am elected, I will be first among equals.“