The deputies adopted with 152 votes “for“ and 73 “against“ the state budget for 2025 on first reading, BNT reported.
The discussion on one of the most important bills began shortly after 11 p.m. and lasted four hours.
In the plenary hall, the bill was defended by Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.
“Our government had to conduct a review and analysis of public finances in a very short time and propose a draft budget law that, on the one hand, complies with the Public Finance Law and, on the other hand, is in accordance with European rules. We had to propose a budget law that gives us policies aimed at solving basic problems in society. We tried and proposed a budget draft that is the possible budget in this period of time and in this situation we find ourselves in“, explained Petkova.
According to her, a better option for the budget could be sought, but at the moment this is the only possible one in view of the short deadlines.
The state budget envisages a record level of revenues and expenditures, respectively over 90 billion leva and nearly 97 billion. The set budget deficit is 6.4 billion leva or 3% of the country's GDP. With this plan, the state's account meets the requirements for the country's entry into the eurozone.
The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Boyan Magdalinchev presented the budget of the judiciary. The planned expenditures in it are 1.66 billion. leva.
„The draft budget for the judiciary for 2025 proposed by the plenum of the Supreme Judicial Council is consistent with the estimated optimal amount of funds for the optimal functioning of the bodies of the judiciary. The basic monthly remuneration of the lowest magistrate position is determined in the amount of the doubled average monthly salary of employees in the budgetary sphere according to the data of the National Statistical Institute. “, explained Magdalinchev.
According to NSI data, the average monthly salary in the budgetary sphere in the second quarter of 2024 was 2303 leva. According to Magdalinchev, however, the proposed budget is not sufficient, as it only provides for an increase in expenses due to the increase in the minimum wage to 1077 leva. There is no money for repairs to new buildings, nor is there any other money for maintenance.
The BSP-OL explained that they will support the budget as a first step to stabilize the situation in the country. The party also called on the other deputies to support the texts.
“This support is categorical and unambiguous, because this budget is a very important step to get the country out of a severe crisis caused by a series of elections and unacceptable budget policy. The submitted project is also an important step towards stabilizing the political situation in the country“, said Dragomir Stoynev from the BSP-OL.
Stoynev reminded that the new budget will guarantee an increase in the salaries of the military, police and teachers. An additional 5% is also set for a salary increase in the budget sector.
The PP-DB again criticized the proposed state budget because of the record level of expenses set. According to Martin Dimitrov, over 26 billion leva are planned for additional spending, which has not happened before.
„The adoption of the budget is one of the most important acts of the National Assembly and sets the direction for the development of Bulgaria. The problem is that the budget prepared by this ruling majority is anti-reformist“, commented Martin Dimitrov from PP-DB.
PP-DB also warned that there is a serious danger that VAT revenues will not be collected in the planned volume.
The budget was not supported by the “Vazrazhdane“ party, which announced that in their opinion the budget plan was adjusted so that Bulgaria would enter the eurozone.
The MRF-DPS commented that they support the budget because it complies with the law on public finances, as well as the requirements of the eurozone.
“The advantages of the budget are the search for a fair balance between investment spending and an increase in wage costs. In addition, a clear and consistent policy of increasing incomes has been set“, said Hasan Ademov from DPS-DPS.
The party's critical remarks are aimed at linking salaries in certain sectors to the average wage.
The budget was also commented on by DPS-NN, who announced that they would support it at first reading, despite the created fiscal risk due to the high level of spending.
“We heard many times in the debate that this is the possible budget, that this is a budget that would help Bulgaria enter the eurozone. However, it is important for us that this budget be a budget that works for the people, to increase their incomes and the competitiveness of the economy“, said Elvan Gyurkas from DPS-NN.
The DPS-NN welcomed the fact that taxes will not be increased in the new budget and explained that they will present their proposals between the two readings. They also drew attention to the fact that there are indeed many unrealistic parts in the budget.
„Vazrazhdane“ announced, as expected, that they will not support the budget.
„This budget is fake, it is not a compromise. It is burying Bulgaria. With fake NSI data. You say that this is a compromise budget, this has nothing to do with the truth“, commented Kostadin Kostadinov from "Vazrazhdane".
As expected, GERB-SDF supports the budget, but they defined as a negative the fact that there was no analysis of the implementation of the budget last year, so that the new one could be consistent with it.
„About the budget, it can be said that there is some consistency after order in chaos with this government, time for order in the budget. All sectoral policies are somewhat protected, but the lack of analysis prevents us from making a much better budget“, commented Lyuben Dilov-sin from GERB-SDF.
The party issued a statement that changes can be expected between the two readings of the budget.
Harsh criticism of the budget was directed by "We Continue the Change". Former Finance Minister Assen Vassilev explained that the party had made a request before the presentation of the budget plan that they would support the budget if it met the requirements for adopting the euro and the budget "did not contain any big nonsense". However, they were disappointed.
“The real problem with this budget is that it not only contains big nonsense. The real problem is that this budget is scandalous“, commented Assen Vassilev from PP-DB.
According to Vassilev's calculations, 7 billion more debt is being taken on than necessary. The new debt set in the budget is 18.9 billion leva.
In response, the Finance Minister accused Assen Vassilev of his previous poor management of the fiscal system.
“This is your legacy, you have been governing for four years, we have been governing for one month. You just want to manipulate the National Assembly and mislead people, you won't succeed. This is the mirror in which you should see yourself", said Petkova.
After the minister's speech, Vassilev tried to respond, but he was not entitled to a personal explanation. GERB-SDF MP Kostadin Angelov came out with a list of Asen Vassilev's violations. After an exchange of remarks, in which Kiril Petkov from PP-DB also joined in, the MPs warned each other that they would sue.
The budget was also supported by Ima takvi narod. The party seriously criticized Asen Vassilev and the financial policy he led.
"This is not the budget that we would like from ITN, because we are a right-wing party, and he is quite generous. But this budget is like this because it is possible. Since the appearance of Asen Vassilev, the budget has been in deficit. The excessive increase in pensions, the minimum wage and the average wage led to high inflation and the state's inability to pay, commented Toshko Yordanov from ITN.
The deadline for proposals for changes to the budget, again as with small budgets, was reduced to 5 days.