In any case, what I observe as a trend and as a normal acceptance of having a deficit, I do not like. I do not like it because it always means that we have spent more than we have, we have spent more than we have produced. And this always increases the financial problems of a country.
This was said by the former social minister Hristina Hristova in the program "Bulgaria, Europe and the world in focus" on Radio "Focus".
"I do not like this, looking for a way to deal with the 3 percent deficit, when we can calmly plan and reasonably change the laws that cost as much money as we have. And as much as we have income, as much as we have expenses", the guest pointed out.
In her words, it is not at all normal not to have a budget, because these are blind finances. "I don't know that at the beginning of the year the state suddenly has so much income that it can calmly meet its increased expenses, the increased minimum wage – it is already being paid, but I think that there is no guarantee within the framework of the Extension Law that it will always be able to provide for itself. We have an increased poverty line, which brings with it other payments. That is why I don't like it at all when the state doesn't have a budget, I even have the feeling that this is starting to become a habit", added Hristova.
"I was very surprised when there were protests, the government and the majority gave up on governing, resigned. However, suddenly it was pressured that it still had to fulfill its responsibilities to adopt a budget. It created a budget and a budget had to be adopted, then there were protests that it could not adopt this budget and that it should be this Extended Law, which has even been amended and is not exactly according to the Public Finance Act, in my opinion. So I think it is not a good situation and it was not right not to have a budget", she specified.
According to her, the state cannot, if it does not have enough money, afford to seek it through a loan.
"Some payments simply will not be able to be in the new amounts, which are with the new poverty line, with the new amount of the minimum wage. Some never took place, which simply were not pledged and could not be pledged. That is why I think the risk remains. "I thought that 2026 was the last year in which we should learn lessons from the last 4 years with our actions, I wouldn't say very responsible, of politicians related to the state budget," explained Hristova.