Assen Vassilev from Pazardzhik: A severe crisis is looming because of Iran, incomes must rise faster than inflation

“Another severe crisis is looming because of Iran. It will again follow the same line - the price of electricity, the price of food, and will hit the most vulnerable people in the country. And the solution must again be for incomes to rise faster than inflation“. This was announced at a meeting with citizens in Pazardzhik by the leader of “Continuing the Change” Assen Vassilev. The leader of the PP-DB list for Pazardzhik, Ivaylo Shotev, as well as the mayor of the city, Petar Kulenski, also participated in the conversation.
Assen Vassilev recalled how in 2022, during the “Petkov” cabinet, the PP for the first time set a priority - not to leave pensioners below the poverty line. Then a very severe crisis began - the prices of gas, fertilizers, food, everything skyrocketed due to the war in Ukraine. “However, pensions were raised twice then - in July and a second time in October for the lowest pensions. In 2023 and 2024, we moved forward a little and for the first time we broke away from the bottom. For the first time in 2024, Bulgarian families had higher incomes than Hungarian families. We were not last in Europe. The Hungarians were last," said the leader of "Continuing Change." He explained that the policy of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban led to the impoverishment of his fellow citizens. "He stands for everything Russian and they still use Russian gas and Russian oil to this day. However, this has made them poorer, not richer. Because the most important thing is to buy the cheapest, not the most fraternal. This is the way to become richer over time," the former finance minister specified.
He recalled that last year the GERB and DPS government with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, as well as a social minister from the BSP, demanded to raise pensions by only 5%, and not according to the Swiss rule. PP-DB then fought to prevent this injustice from being introduced. "For the first time now - in January 2026, pensions again fell below the poverty line. We have 1 million people whose pensions are not enough, because the poverty line is about 50 euros higher than the minimum pension. This must stop, because another severe crisis is coming because of Iran. The solution must be for incomes to rise faster than inflation. And this will not happen with the Swiss rule alone“, explained Assen Vassilev. According to him, the solution is, as in 2022, to have a larger increase in pensions, ahead of the Swiss rule.
The PP leader added that the formation will work to have normal, well-paid jobs and a focus on families with children. In 2022, “We Continue the Change“ increased the tax relief for children from 20 leva to 600 leva. “Now we have set a target of reaching 600 euros. We proposed the measure last year, but the government did not accept it“, recalled Assen Vassilev. He added that the PP will demand double the amount of maternity leave for mothers with twins, as well as 100% maternity leave, even when the woman returns to work, so that she can more easily take care of her children and work.
Assen Vassilev also paid special attention to the inefficient spending of public money in healthcare. According to him, control must be restored in the sector and people must be helped not to pay extra. “We currently pay the most extra for healthcare in all of Europe. It is supposedly free, but every time we go to hospital, something has to be paid. Health care money has increased from 4.5 billion leva during Covid to almost 11 billion leva now. They went up about two and a half times. However, healthcare has neither improved nor has it become cheaper for citizens. Very clear control must be put in place“, the PP leader was categorical.
The former finance minister told the people in the hall the plan of the experts in “We Continue the Change“ how this could happen. “When the health insurance fund pays something for you, you receive an SMS: “NHIF now paid for a test for you and you have the option to respond to the SMS: “I haven't been tested” or “Well, since the health insurance fund pays for me, why did they ask me for money again?”. "If this happens, if the salaries of young doctors and nurses improve, if the cheapest consumables and materials are introduced into the aisles without co-payment, if you can enter the hospital and leave without paying a penny, things will be completely different," added Asen Vassilev. He was categorical that this is not a matter of money, but of organization to stop some thefts that are currently happening in healthcare.
The PP leader recalled that when 5 years ago “we entered politics, our dream was for Bulgaria to become a normal, rich, fair country“. He summarized that the Change party ruled once for 6.5 months and the second time for 9 months in coalitions where everyone is trying to screw you over. For comparison, Rumen Radev's caretaker cabinets have been in power for 2.5 years.
“Now we have a chance to defeat Borisov and Peevski if Bulgarians come out to vote, as in Hungary so many people came out to vote”, said Assen Vassilev. He explained that voter turnout in Hungary was 78%, and in the last elections in Bulgaria - 38%. If in the upcoming elections on April 19 in our country it reaches 65%, Borisov and Peevski will no longer be a factor, because the two of them together will have less than 80 MPs. “Then the chief prosecutor can be changed. The Ministry of Interior has now started to tighten their grip a bit because of election fraud and for the first time we have seen some people arrested for giving money to buy votes. Here in Pazardzhik, you remember, we caught them live during the local elections and the police said: “But we didn't see any money“, said Asen Vassilev and called on people to go out and vote.
The leader of the PP-DB list for Pazardzhik Ivaylo Shotev said that he was extremely proud, as an awakening is being observed in society. “All of Bulgaria revolted a few months ago. For me, it is important to realize that the change also started with us. Our fate, our future depends entirely on us. That is why I am addressing you: “Go out, exercise your right to vote“, said the candidate for deputy.