I do not think that the new version of the budget for next year will ensure stability or economic growth. The new budget was somehow rigged, but I personally am more concerned about the 2027 budget. This was stated on NOVA NEWS by former Deputy Minister of Economy Milen Keremedchiev, quoted by novini.bg.
According to him, it is imperative for the government to create a 3-year economic framework, because the 2026 Budget includes huge expenses and unclear revenues.
The growth of foreign investments has fallen dramatically in the last two years. At the moment, we do not know how revenues will be secured in the coming years. The EU is cutting our funds under the Development Cooperation Programme due to unimplemented reforms, Keremedchiev commented.
He warned that because of hasty “rigging“ budget and given the planned costs for raising salaries, which will inevitably pump up inflation even more, it is not ruled out that the budget plan will be revised as early as the middle of next year.
„This is not a budget of reforms, it is a budget of compromise and stochastics, so that both employers and unions can be satisfied. A budget of growth implies reforms, and this one does not include such reforms. Bulgaria only makes reforms when it is under pressure from the European Commission“, explained Keremedchiev.
On the topic of protests, the former deputy minister predicted that they will not stop with the adoption of the new version of the budget, since the people's demands are already different.
The protests will not decrease, the genie has been let out of the bottle. Whether there will be a new budget, this will not bring the genie back – The protests will continue because they now have completely different demands. Young people have woken up and are starting to increase their demands on the government, the guest in the studio explained.
However, Keremedchiev does not believe that Rosen Zhelyazkov's cabinet will fall, as it has comfortable support in parliament.