Bulgaria could have entered the eurozone earlier. We lost time. We could have been together with the Croatians, because we were moving in parallel in this process. They beat us by three years in the eurozone. The good news is that we are already in. This opinion was expressed in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio by Vladislav Goranov, former GERB Finance Minister.
Three European laws have been formally adopted. We have no right to apply anything other than the euro since January 1. We are joining at the current rate, Goranov explained.
"By law, we are already in the euro, only the date is January 1, 2026, and the rate is this", the former minister added.
Asked if there was sabotage from within in the month before July 8 and the final confirmation of Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone, he pointed out that "we are certainly behind in terms of communication, President Rumen Radev is reacting politically.
When you are politically informed, it is right to lead the people, and not "to look for space, life, for political projects and exploit people's fears", reproached President Vladislav Goranov, specifying that he did not understand his position expressed on May 9.
We have six months to get into the rhythm. "40 tyras" is the euro, which should enter into circulation in Bulgaria. This is comparable or similar in effect to the economy and for the individual with the entry of our country into the European Union, the former Finance Minister pointed out.
We have a problem with the fiscal system, Goranov admitted. According to him, the big dilemma was whether to tell in detail what was inherited or to minimize the consequences.
"The fiscal issue will be on the agenda in the second half of the year, because the imbalances in the expenditure side are considerable. Fiscal demoralization started with the entry of Assen Vassilev to "Rakovski" 102 (the Ministry of Finance). Boyko Borisov entered the assembly with a clear understanding of what kind of people he was dealing with and did not oppose him. In the first half of the assembly, GERB participated rather timidly in the government. The entire toolkit of the executive branch was in the hands of We continue the change. We from GERB believe that the assembly broke because it was not balanced," Goranov also said.
If there was no regular government, no one would bother with us and make a convergence report, commented Vladislav Goranov.
"Stability in the state depends on the majority in parliament. We are close to the six months of the government – we have entry into the eurozone, a changed and approved PVP. If every government in 6 months goes through this much, let's look for flaws in it. The political crisis that started in the summer of 2020 must end. Otherwise, we must look north and see how a large country with a decent economy can be brought to the brink – Romania."
Ideologically, in the past, the BSP "was rubbing" in the nationalist theses during the time of Cornelia Ninova, it could still be up to "Vazrazhdane" on the square today. The alliance with the BSP is not a compromise, but a lesson that Bulgaria can no longer be governed without a coalition, believes Goranov, according to whom ideology has given way to real politics.
"The fact that systemic parties came together to push the country forward a little is a congratulations to everyone."
According to him, the GERB structures are happy that they have been legitimized and the party is in power after years of isolation and squirming.