"Bulgaria is the only country in the EU that has no measures for the crisis in fuel and food prices.“. This was stated during the debate on “Off Air“ by the leader of the BSP-OL list in Targovishte, Gergana Aleksova. She recalled that thanks to the left there was an extraordinary session of the National Assembly to discuss such measures, the BSP proposed specific ones, but the session was foiled by the other parties before they could be reached. “We propose to reduce VAT on fuels – the price of the initial product is only 35 percent of what everyone pays at the pump. The money for the measures can be taken from the VAT collected in excess due to high prices, from excess profits.", she also said.
In her words, justice is what will introduce normality into both the economy and our daily lives. "We have a plan on how to achieve this justice and one of the measures is a progressive tax system. This is the fair system. This is not just mathematics. For a person with a minimum wage of 620 euros, there will be 62 euros more left, which are bread and milk per month. Almost 3 million Bulgarians will pay less tax, this is more money in the family budget. The increase in prices - directly from one lev to one euro was allowed because there is injustice. The state is out of place. The mantra about the invisible hand of the market does not work. And the West has known it for a long time - the state must intervene. It must stand behind the weaker, to ensure that the stronger does not bully the weaker, because this is not a market. This is speculation. When you are sick, the doctor does not give you more of the same medicine, he changes it! Why then do all the right-wingers offer more of the same for the state - a flat tax, cutting social spending? The medicine must be changed and it is justice, a progressive tax system and other fair incomes.", Gergana Aleksova was categorical.
She recalled that in recent years, only thanks to the BSP, social policies have been implemented on the part of the state, no matter how much some parties have tried to attribute them to themselves, they have happened under ministers from the left - an increase in pensions, free kindergartens, an increase in maternity leave in the second year, an increase in pensions, free medicines for children up to 14 years of age and many others. “Only the BSP puts these problems on the table, because the economy is not just numbers and statistics, it is every Bulgarian, prices, incomes and a decent life. Because Bulgaria is not a poor country. We are poor in justice!", she said.
Ivan Krastev: We must put an end to inequalities in the quality of life
"There are huge inequalities in our country. The quality of life differs radically even from one part of Sofia to another. And from Sofia to the countryside and small settlements too. In the municipality of Opan, Stara Zagora, the quality of life has nothing to do with that of people in the capital." This was said by the leader of the BSP-OL list in Stara Zagora, Ivan Krastev, during the debate. According to him, the big problem is the socio-economic and income inequalities, as well as territorial ones, in access to various services. “There must be state policies, so that there is comparability between the incomes of people with normal employment and others in their situation.“. In his words, this need is also emphasized by the fact that we top the ranking for the number of working poor in the European Union.
"We are fighting for the trust of voters and for the restoration of the authentic left in Bulgarian politics. There is no other representative of leftist and progressive ideas in Bulgaria besides the BSP-UNITED LEFT. And when we talk about changes, they started from the left. We have been changing for 135 years, while others come and go.", Krastev also said and emphasized that there is no other expression of social policy in our country. He pointed out that support for children and families is key to this policy. “What we are proposing is an investment of one billion euros in a municipal housing fund, as is the case in many European countries - housing to be given at affordable rent for young specialists who work and develop in Bulgaria. Support for purchasing a home upon the birth of a first, second and third child is at stake“, he explained. Krastev also said that the socialists will sharply increase the one-time birth allowance to 2,500 euros and 5,000 euros for a second and third child. “The funds will come from changes in the tax and social security system. From breaking the right-wing consensus and changing the way taxation is applied and the excess profits of the relevant companies”
The socialist was categorical that the state must return to its main role, namely to take care of all its citizens. “We must be aware that all of us together are as strong as the weakest of us.“, Krastev commented.
Tatyana Doncheva: The positions of all parties on the political-oligarchic model must be clear
„The fight against corruption is not being led by the competent authorities, because the political-oligarchic model Borisov – Peevski has appointed two party-loyal high judicial councils and two prosecutors general. The positions of all parties on this issue and how it can be resolved must be clear.“. This was said by the leader of the leftist list in Plovdiv Tatyana Doncheva. According to her, people should not be misled by the words that someone will dismantle this model, but has ordered Bentleys and Porsches and has put secretaries, PR people of the biggest businessmen on their lists.
She recalled that the constitutional changes of the PP-DB, voted with the support of GERB and MRF, were defined as a mistake by 29 out of 30 professional organizations. According to her, the division of the Supreme Judicial Council into two colleges is also such a mistake.
"Magistrates who have professional qualities and a strong back should be elected. It is clear to all of us that dismantling the oligarchic model with artificial intelligence is an empty task. The election of a new Supreme Judicial Council must begin immediately and go hand in hand with the formation of a government. There is also a text in the basic law on how the state should deal with the Five Euro, the Dwarves and others", Doncheva noted. She was categorical that the presence of the BSP-OL in the next parliament will bring common sense.