I did not expect to answer a question about the Minister of Culture Marian Bachev. I do not see a problem either in the work of the Minister of Culture, nor do I believe that such scandals concern the Ministry of Culture and its management, said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, MP from the ITN Pavela Mitova, chairwoman of the energy committee in the National Assembly.
"Everyone who has violated the law should bear their responsibility, and who his friends are in private life is a separate case. Bachev has long since distanced himself and has never been a partner with this person (b. r. Rosen Belov). I will not comment on the relations of the Union of Artists with the current administration of the Ministry of Culture. At the very beginning of the mandate, certain interests of representatives of the Union of Artists were interrupted", explained the MP from the ITN.
In the program "Nedelya 150" she commented on the draft budget for 2026, which will be the first in euros:
"We are talking about the difficult financial situation we have been in for several years and the ITN left a government because of the debt spiral we entered and it is difficult to get out of it. Currently, the budget is balanced, the deficit is 3%. As a right-winger, I do not think it is right to strive for a 3% deficit. This is the upper limit. It is balanced, including all the social demands of the partners and the investment program is guaranteed. With my right-wing understanding, I think that a country should strive for zero deficit, but when you are in a debt spiral, it is difficult. In recent years, we have seen social payments outpacing economic growth."
According to Mitova, it will be difficult to cover the social expectations of citizens without debts.
"When you participate in a government with other formations, each makes compromises and achieves its priorities. The demands of young doctors will be satisfied, we strive for everyone in the sector to receive fair and decent pay. For young doctors, it will be decided through the NHIF budget. There is a historic budget and a transfer to the state budget of 260 million leva will be made and salaries are fixed at 1,860 euros - 150% of the average salary. It will be written into the law on medical institutions and there will be scales prepared, and with the increase in the lower scales, the upper ones will also increase. Resident doctors cannot receive higher salaries than those who train them. Midwives and nurses will also receive decent pay. That is why this reform was complicated and we will wait for its effects. Nurses and midwives will receive 1,550 euros."
Mitova added that the pension also remains 620 euros, after "we recalculated the budget several times and agreed that maternity leave in the second year would be 460 euros - 900 leva, and those who return to work would receive 75% of the compensation".
"I am glad that right-wing measures also find a place in the budget. Back in 2025, the ITN proposed something that was promised to reduce the capital program of the state budget through a public-private partnership for large infrastructure projects. Now we see this idea in the 2026 budget," commented Pavela Mitova.
She pointed out that the capital program is being expanded with 5 billion from PVU investments included:
"And a large part of the municipal projects are being transferred for financing through the BDB, where the capital will be increased, not to circumvent the deficit, but definitely helps to reduce it."
Regarding the support of the DPS-NN and Peevski to the government, Mitova explained that the ITN has kept its promise.
"What some people say does not correspond to reality! Before the last parliamentary elections, we said that we would do everything possible for Bulgaria to have a stable government and that Peevski would not participate - now we are observing this. Peevski has no positions of power in the state, no chairmen of committees in the National Assembly. I have never spoken to Peevski and my party," she said.
And she pointed out that, unlike its neighbors, Bulgaria has the necessary quantities of fuel for months on end.
"We also have reserves, we have them for months to come in Bulgaria, if we consider the reserve, the situation becomes even better. We have asked OFAC questions with several options and are waiting for answers. One option is for a special governor, we are also discussing his functions and whether they can be expanded. The first thing is to protect Bulgarian citizens and the first measure is to stop exports to the EU and third countries. When prices rise in neighboring countries, it is a likely prerequisite for speculating on prices and proceeding with exports," Mitova explained.
And he announced that he hopes next week "we will have a ready solution, because we are currently preparing the Action Plan". Otherwise, they are in constant correspondence with American partners.