The Parliamentary Committee on Prevention and Counteraction to Corruption adopted the draft law on the state budget for 2026 in first reading with 12 votes "for", 8 "against" and no abstentions, reports BTA.
The planned expenses for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for next year amount to 13,096,600 euros, of which 11,470,200 euros are for personnel. The prepared draft budget is in line with the proposal of the Chairman of the Commission for Combating Corruption during the budget procedure, explained Ralitsa Radkova, a state expert in the "State Expenditures" Directorate of the Ministry of Finance. She added that in this way conditions are ensured for the performance of the functions and tasks of the CPC.
The planned costs for the Commission for the Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Assets (CCA) are 8,634,900 euros, of which 7,082,900 euros are for personnel, Radkova also pointed out.
During the debate, "Vazrazhdane" and "We Continue the Change" raised the question of why the planned increase of over 50% in the remuneration of the Commission for Combating Corruption is necessary.
"Vazrazhdane“ will not support the budget, the growth in salary costs in the CPC is impressive, said Georgi Hrisimirov. In March, when the budget for this year was voted on, there was a 65% increase in salaries, and from nearly 9 million leva it rose to about 14,750,000 leva. Currently, it is proposed that the salary costs in the CPC increase by 52% or a little over 22 million leva, the MP pointed out. He asked whether the committee plans to open new staff positions, what justifies an additional 52% increase in salary funds. "Vazrazhdane" is also surprised why, given that there is a proposal to close the CPC, such an increase in salaries is planned. We want information about the work of the CPC and the CPC. There is no such increase in salary costs in the entire budget, Hrisimirov pointed out. In the EWRC, the salary increase is 18.6%, NSI – 6.75%, SANS is 8.6%, the MP pointed out.
Miroslava Zhekova, head of the "Budget and Accounting" department at the KPK, explained that this is related to several factors - a new minimum wage for the country, the planned increase in the social security contribution for the "Pensions" fund, a change in the maximum social security income, a 5% indexation of personnel costs for KPK members, for employees under labor relations and those under service legal relationships, as well as additional costs in connection with additional functions of employees with status under the SANS law.
Lena Borislavova (PP-DB) noted that there are hardly any minimum wages at the KPK and the KPK. Let's say 5% indexation, 10% increase in taxes – where does the remaining 35% increase come from, what will the employees of the KPK do under the new law on SANS, she commented. Maybe it is a reward for a job well done, Borislavova suggested. According to the changes in SANS, how much exactly will your colleagues be burdened to justify a 52% increase for next year, the MP asked.
A function for investigating the KPK was introduced, this necessitated a change in the budget, said Plamen Yotsov, a member of the KPK and the KONPI.
Hysni Adem from the "Alliance for Rights and Freedoms" asked two questions – how much was the staff this year, how much will it be in 2026, how much was the average salary in the Anti-Corruption Commission and how much will it be?
Yotsov replied that this information is classified and can be obtained in the appropriate legal manner.
Lena Borislavova commented that support for the budget also depends on the answer to the question of what the fate of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission will be, because once our state has already had a reduced payment under the PVP due to the lack of activity of the ruling majority to conduct a meaningful procedure for changing the leadership of the commission, then the leader of "DPS - New Beginning" Delyan Peevski stated that the anti-corruption commission should be closed. What is the point of voting on a budget with a three-year forecast, with an increase of over 50%, if this committee will not exist in a few months, asked Borislavova.
The chairwoman of the parliamentary committee on prevention and counteraction to corruption, Maya Dimitrova ("BSP – United Left“) replied that the fate of the CPC can be decided by the deputies with their decisions. Should we vote on a budget for these two committees – this is part of the general budget, if the committee is closed by a decision of the National Assembly, there is a possibility of updating, she pointed out.
Yordan Todorov from "Vazrazhdane" requested information on how many pre-trial proceedings for corruption have been initiated, after inspections by the CPC, how many court decisions have been made and how many have been overturned. The same questions are being asked of the Commission for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If we had answers, we would know exactly what work the two commissions have done, Todorov noted. His colleague Emil Yankov asked whether the requested increase also includes money for benefits for employees who have reached retirement age, and whether there are any vacant positions. He also proposed that the budget vote be postponed today until these data become clear. Eight deputies supported him, 12 were against.
Do you at least know who put forward this request for an increase to you? Kiril Veselinski, chairman of the parliamentary group "Moral, Unity, Honor" (MECH), joined the debate. He stated that he would vote against the requested budget. You want an increase of over 50% for silence, for covering up corruption in the state, against the background that there is no 100-150 leva for Christmas supplements for Bulgarian pensioners, commented Veselinski.