The only thing we still owe the people is a sharp attack on disinformation on the euro and inciting fears in people. This was told to BNT by Vladislav Goranov from GERB, who was Minister of Finance when Bulgaria was admitted to the waiting room of the eurozone - ERM II.
"Those who are trying to extract political dividends with an anti-euro thesis, if they were honest and shared reasonable, real arguments, would be worthy of respect that such a debate is being held, because a debate on any topic, especially if it is important, must be held. But they are not only on the verge of charlatans, but they are playing against the interests of the people who want to govern. In this sense, probably the most diplomatic definition is that they are populists. But, either way, it became clear that it is necessary to talk more about this topic."
He advised the current Minister Temenuzhka Petkova to be careful with preparing the budget in euros.
"I do not envy Temenuzhka. We are friends, so I allow myself to be patronizing. The political crisis in Bulgaria is not over. Thank you to Borisov and everyone who supports the government. Because without a regular government, we would not be having this conversation right now. It is not easy for Temenuzhka. I wish her to be more decisive. And to be careful with preparing the budget in euros. Because the 2 to 1 denomination does not automatically mean a smaller deficit by half."
When asked who is to blame for Bulgarians being afraid of the euro, Goranov replied:
"All those who try to manage people's fears with false arguments are to blame.
The euro is just one of the convenient speculations with which people can be confused.
Because in the modern information world, the speed of information is confusing for everyone.
11% of Bulgarians believe that the Earth is flat. But in fact, the politicians who were slow in explaining are probably also to blame. Whatever the explanations of the benefits, however, they can always be opposed by a wrong antithesis. And here is the role of leadership. Because if in direct democracy, people decide with the information they have, then in a representative democracy like ours and the model we have chosen, leaders who have more information and more opportunity to process this information must lead. Why did I start the explanation like this? Because on May 9, instead of celebrating Europe Day, we faced a provocation that has its political price for all who participated in it. But otherwise, probably most of this evening will be about the euro and the success that we can perceive as a step towards the introduction of the euro - to bring you back to the existence of the euro. Such a union, like the European one, is created after a huge world conflict and as a result of centuries-old struggles between the peoples that inhabit the Old Continent. And the euro, or in general the currency of a country or a community, is the greatest emanation of trust between them. And in fact, the euro is only a consequence of an economic and monetary union, which in the modern global world the former empires of the Old Continent, and now Bulgaria, life and health is part of the same, are trying to build in order to be more competitive, stronger and more successful."
Vladislav Goranov is categorical that the euro should not be a reason or occasion for a more correct or incorrect fiscal policy.
"Stupid things can be done in any currency. I don't want to sound undiplomatic, but look at what fiscal result our neighbors in Romania have and in which currency they achieve it. In this sense, the euro is neither a reason nor an occasion for a more correct or incorrect fiscal policy. The euro is a huge union between countries that have united their economies together and shared their monetary policy. The euro will not be the reason for anything, except for a bunch of reasons, including reducing transaction costs, participating in a huge currency union, the second in the world, you may not know, but the most popular or most widespread paper currency in the world is the euro. We have long since surpassed the US dollar. But what I wanted to say is that politically correct decisions or politically incorrect decisions can be denominated in any currency."
The former finance minister does not deny that prices will rise after the introduction of the European currency.
"No, prices will rise as we get richer. Because when your salary grows, the need for more advertising in the company you work for grows, the need for a larger budget will grow. When the pastry chef at the entrance to the capital's metro, who gets up at 4:00 a.m. every morning to knead these patties, instead of 600 leva starts charging 2,000 leva, the patty will also grow. Because labor also has a price. But measuring it in one currency or another is not a reason to change prices. And I am convinced, I will quote from memory, that 10-15 years ago, when she was in her power as Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel said a catchphrase in front of the Bundestag - "Who is this market, that it will be stronger than the state?" And I am convinced that all speculations about prices will lead to the fact that even Bulgarian business will stubbornly show that the euro will not be the reason for changes in prices."
According to Goranov, the unanimity of the political elite on the topic of the euro is indicative.
"I think that the ambition, notice that in Bulgaria, unlike Croatia, where the euro was introduced last, there is such unanimity of the people who have to make decisions and bear responsibility for them, which we have not achieved on other topics or in other countries. And I immediately give an example with the unions. In Croatia, the unions were staunch opponents of Croatia's accession to the eurozone. In Bulgaria, the unions, all employer organizations, all business organizations, 170 members of parliament, of course the governor of the BNB, I congratulate Mitko Radev, Rosen Zhelyazkov, everyone, the political elite, who knows that this is good, stood behind this decision. And I don't think that those who took the wrong place in history will not pay the price."