„Borisov must stop pretending to be „Long-suffering Genoveva and start governing, stop hiding behind other people“. This is how Venko Sabrutev from „We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria“ (PP-DB) responded to the criticism of the ruling party towards former Finance Minister Assen Vassilev about the state of public finances and the „hole“ in the budget, BTA reports.
The Joint Management Council is currently discussing the 2025 budget. On Saturday, GERB leader Boyko Borisov demanded, at the beginning of this week and before the Joint Management Council, that the Ministry of Finance and Minister Petkova answer him what expenses due for 2024 have been delayed and transferred to 2025 and in what amount, in order to meet the set deficit on a cash basis.
„We saw that there is no gap for 2024“, commented Venko Sabrutev today upon entering the parliament building. First, the lie that they started circulating to us since September last year turned out to be a lie, he said. „The deficit for 2024 is 3%, six billion, not 18 billion, not 9%, as they were scaring us“, added Sabrutev.
He indicated that what the budget for 2025 will be depends precisely on the current rulers. “They cannot give us a 15 billion investment program, given that last year 10 billion were included in the budget and only six of them were actually used. How can five billion additional“, commented the MP from PP-DB.
When asked whether “We Continue the Change“ would support the increase in salaries in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the services, Venko Sabrutev replied that this was voted on in the 50th National Assembly and there is a law that is actually already being implemented. The question here is what Borisov will do – will leave money for the police and will not give money to doctors, to teachers, will they stop all these programs such as the free in vitro procedures that we introduced, the screening programs for pregnant women, the compensation for children not accepted in kindergartens and nurseries, he asked.
Sabrutev pointed out that the PP-DB is proposing a reform that the ruling party should actually implement, because society expects a 51% increase in salaries in exchange for a 51% increase in street safety. He raised the question of whether security will increase without reform, or whether expenses will simply increase.
Earlier today, representatives of the opposition also commented on the budget issue and criticized Assen Vassilev. Upon entering the parliament building, Bayram Bayram („DPS-New Beginning“) said that from „DPS-New Beginning“ will do everything to increase the incomes of Bulgarian citizens and the funds for municipalities, which were also planned for this year. When asked where this money would come from, he replied: “Assen Vassilev, ask him, he is an expert on potholes“.