We still don't know much about the budget. The only thing that is clear is that the minimum wage will be 1213 leva, and pensions will be updated according to the "Swiss rule". Everything else is shrouded in fog.
This was stated by the MP from "Vazrazhdane" Dimo Drenchev.
He added that the Ministry of Finance systematically delays the publication of data on budget execution by about a month, which, according to him, may be aimed at concealing the real deficit and inflation.
"There are countless ways to conceal the deficit. The largest is through the billions transferred to the Bulgarian Development Bank, which are not reported as an expense, but as an asset, the MP explained.
In his words, this is a "trick" with which the government actually takes out a loan, but formally does not increase the deficit.
Drenchev supports income growth, but criticizes the government's approach:
"The minimum wage should be determined more freely and differently in individual sectors. An industry that makes billions cannot have the same minimum wage as sectors that are failing."
He insists on dropping the centralized formula and for the dialogue with employers to be real, not fictitious.
"I categorically believe that the banking sector should be imposed with a temporary tax on excess profits", Drenchev also said. and recalled that last year banks made 3.4 billion leva in profit, of which about a third came from fees.
Drenchev sharply criticized the tax policy towards large companies:
"If we leave the largest company in Bulgaria – – "Lukoil" – not paying taxes for years, and we are chasing hair salons, this is chicken farming."
He claims that despite promises, "Lukoil" has not paid the full amount of taxes due and has not proven a profit in Bulgaria for years:
"If a small company has been operating at a loss for several years, the National Revenue Agency will check it immediately. Nobody asks about "Lukoil"."
According to Drenchev, the future sale of the refinery in Burgas is high-risk:
"The Bulgarian refinery is the largest in the Balkans. If something goes wrong with the deal, there will be serious consequences for fuel prices."
Drenchev insists on closing some of the independent regulators and incorporating them as directorates in the ministries:
"The administration is infinitely bloated, expensive and inefficient. There is room for severe cuts," he pointed out.
Dimo Drenchev also said that "Vazrazhdane" will not support a new chairman proposed by the ruling majority, but will probably not nominate its own candidate, since it has no real chance of being elected.