Boyko Borissov: There are three options for the budget. The expenditure and revenue parts will be revised

He made his comments after Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova announced earlier today that the tripartite dialogue has been restored, and next week specific measures will be discussed with business and unions.

Consider that this budget has been withdrawn, a budget committee was not held yesterday and nothing will happen until we reach an agreement with unions, employers and other parties, Borisov said.

According to him, there are three options for the budget, the expenditure and revenue parts will be revised.

The first option is to withdraw the budget and start the procedure from scratch. The second option – "If we come to an agreement with the unions, the employers - I am firmly convinced that it will happen, because we will give up on what I did not like - the – "dividend" tax, raising the pension contribution to 2%, I think it will be 1%, but let the meetings pass," Borisov demanded. On Tuesday, all parties were expected to offer their options. But we, one way or another, will make concessions, I think we will convince the other parties, and then a budget committee will meet, the first reading has already passed, and in a very short time these proposals, under which we have all described ourselves, will be included and we will be able to finalize the year with an adopted budget, the former prime minister explained the procedure. If it does not happen, we go to the third option - a bill for the so-called extended budget is proposed, so that from January 1 people can still receive their pensions and salaries. I prefer to have a regular budget, the GERB chairman emphasized. The budget that has already been submitted will not be voted on by GERB deputies.

When asked why until recently the ministers, the ruling party, explained that this was the only possible budget, and now it turns out that there is an alternative, Borisov specified that this was the only possible budget within this coalition, but it has become clear that business and others do not agree with it. According to him, AIKB held the protest of "We continue the change-Democratic Bulgaria" and they have nothing to brag about. "I even listened to them this morning with Bozhidar Bozhanov, who pulled my ears. These people get up and go to bed with me", commented Boyko Borisov. "A minister came and said that Petkov (Kiril) and Bozhanov were scaring him because he did not give them an order for 600 million. "Let Bozanov and Mirchev come and touch me by the ears, let one grab one of my ears, the other one - the other, and see what the result will be, because I am a coward, according to them," he continued.

When asked about the sports betting concession, which is proposed in the draft budget through transitional and final provisions, he replied that he was ready to give up all concessions. But he emphasized that 44 billion leva entered and exited as turnover in the gambling business in Bulgaria for this year. The profit from gambling activity legally reported to the National Revenue Agency is 2 billion leva, i.e. two billion have been taken out of the pockets of Bulgarians who gamble. At the same time, the only state-owned company in this gamble is only winning 70 million leva. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to give it to a private individual, the former prime minister asked.

Borisov did not deny tension with his BSP partners regarding the budget in connection with yesterday's statement by the chairman of the party and the "BSP-United Left" Atanas Zafirov. We have gathered two right-wing parties and two extreme left-wing ones, Borisov commented. And he specified that the dispute has been going on since day one - they want to take from the rich and give to the poor, GERB, as a right-wing party, wants business, those who produce goods, to feel happy. We made compromises, but you saw what they led to - AIKB, other employers, did not agree to this compromise and I returned to the position I had for 20 years, Borisov pointed out. MRF, in his words, wanted as many people as possible to receive more.

Boyko Borisov specified that he respects Zafirov and yesterday morning he was in his office together with Kiril Dobrev, Dragomir Stoynev, so everything he talked about, they heard. Every party speaks to its voters, I am not inclined to lose mine to punish business, the GERB leader emphasized. And he recalled that the BSP received the so-called Swiss rule, an increase in pensions, and he cannot be the only one to make compromises. Borisov explained that at yesterday's meeting they agreed that everyone would defend their position. The coalition has been so shaky since the first day of its creation that it seems terribly stable, the GERB leader commented.