The biggest blow that Bulgarian pensioners would suffer with the new budget was the idea to change the so-called "Swiss rule". This was said by the municipal councilor from "BSP for Bulgaria" Vanya Grigorova in the program "Bulgaria, Europe and the World in Focus" on Radio "Focus".
She explained that the Swiss rule is written in Article 100 of the Social Security Code. It reflects 50% of inflation and 50% of the increase in social security income.
"What the government tried to do was to reflect only 20% of the increase in social security income and 80% of inflation. This year, inflation will be low, which is why instead of an 8-9% increase in pensions from July 1, there would be only 5%. Thanks to the rising indignation, the government reconsidered these intentions“, explained Grigorova.
Social payments have been frozen in the budget. Intentions to increase social security contributions are also visible, the municipal councilor in the SOS from "BSP for Bulgaria" noted.
"There is no doubt that there should be changes in the tax and social security system, but not in the way that the government is planning. What is planned now is to increase pension insurance by 1% from 2027, and next year – with another 2%“, she explained.
At the same time, 5% of the insurance contributions each month go to private pension funds, Grigorova pointed out.
"And instead of the government finally gathering the political will to fight this tumor of the insurance system and stop the outflow of 3 billion leva, which does not go to pensioners and should come from taxpayers, they are planning to increase the insurance burden for all of us. This is extremely unacceptable, in my opinion“, she was categorical.
In her words, it is very important to see the standards set for state-delegated activities.
"The state is expected to support public transport in all cities much more seriously. "The way the funds are paid out is so flawed that at the end of the year millions are poured into the companies, and they cannot operate with them," Grigorova also said.