Every week, every day, Bulgaria pays 1.050 million leva to "Botas", a contract concluded by the president. There is no way that expenses have been incurred and rights have been given, and we can now say, "hope and we'll cut them". On the contrary, we listen carefully and smoothly to all those calls for us to reduce the administration, without any sudden movements, said Kostadin Angelov, Chairman of the Joint Management Council and MP from GERB-SDF, in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio.
"There must be stability, there must be social peace in the state. Bulgaria must be a predictable Euro-Atlantic partner of the EC. And that is what we will be," Angelov said in the program "Nedelya 150" in his comment on the draft Budget 2026.
He explained that GERB is not talking about cuts in the state administration, but there is a call and "we will carefully monitor pensioners".
"Everything we have told the people will happen, income policy will clearly be higher than the forecasted inflation in a year", promised Kostadin Angelov.
According to him, the draft Budget 2026 was a compromise – "the only possible budget is this one":
"What is the alternative? To collapse the government and let pro-Russian forces come to power? The decisions that are made in a coalition must guarantee financial sustainability and political stability. Europe is on the verge of war, I think this is not surprising to anyone. Nuclear tests are starting, the US is restoring its nuclear program, Russia is threatening with nuclear weapons. And in such a situation, are we to change the geostrategic direction of the state or to shake political stability? This is anti-Bulgarian behavior."
Angelov added that all partners in the ruling coalition think so.
"The position of "BSP for Bulgaria" is stronger than the position of "BSP for Russia". And he was categorical: "It has been clearly stated by all the leaders of the coalition that the goal of this government is a full mandate."
Kostadinov also commented on Pavela Mitova's statement in an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio that the DPS-NN and Peevski do not participate in the government:
"Mitova said it correctly. Power is power when we have someone's participation in the executive or legislative branch or in its committees. I don't understand the conversation right now, I prefer to have a conversation about policies. If this (the coalition) had not happened, what was the alternative for Bulgaria? Should we invite "Vazrazhdane" to the table, "Velicie" or MECH? Yes, PP-DB was the first formation that GERB invited to negotiations. Then DB closed the door with its foot. PP is currently getting closer, in Lorer's words, to "Vazrazhdane". It is moving towards the pro-Russian formation. What is Bulgaria's strategic choice?."
The Chairman of the Joint Management Council explained that for GERB, as the only right-wing conservative party in this coalition, the investment program is important, which in the budget is over 2.5 billion euros:
"Separately, we have nearly 920 million euros in the BDB for municipalities, separately 200 million in the VIK holding. All these investments in the economy will lead to the result. These are right-wing policies."
Angelov commented on the statement of Simeon Dyankov, Minister of Finance in the "Borisov I" cabinet and member of the Fiscal Council for concealing data on the deficit and entry into the eurozone.
"Such fireworks in the public space do not benefit anyone. The Fiscal Council does not have more information than the Ministry of Finance and the government, it is a body of experts who give their opinion."
And Angelov was categorical that there is no concealment of data.
And the money for the 2026 budget to increase the investment program will come from the PVU, from contributions, taxes.
"In recent days, everyone is talking about young doctors, we are talking about all doctors, all physicians, nurses, orderlies, midwives, etc. Let's say something very important, these are the left-wing things in this budget. For GERB as a responsible party, it was important to find the balance that is possible in the budget. This is what is possible, the budget reflects political realities and guarantees the financial and political stability of the state", Angelov commented.
According to him, Bulgaria was ready to enter the eurozone in 2020:
"We had enough fiscal reserves, but the policy of the raised fist ended all the options that were before Bulgaria."
Angelov said he was outraged by Rumen Radev's behavior because as commander-in-chief of All Souls' Day, at the cemeteries where fallen servicemen are honored, he talked about policies, collecting money on his behalf, and discussed policies.
"For me, this is a lack of general and officer honor. He says that someone is collecting money on his behalf. This is a crime. There is no need to declare it, the law obliges him to inform the authorities if he knows anything."