By December 31, 2025, anything can happen, so yes - Bulgaria can be diverted from its path to the eurozone. If there is a caretaker government that says it does not want the euro, they will not accept us by force. Entering the eurozone is the product of systematic political efforts over the last 10 years. The first steps were taken in 2015.
This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev to NOVA.
We recall that Bulgaria met the criteria for the euro - on June 4, our country received a positive assessment from the European Central Bank and the European Commission.
According to him, even upon its accession to the EU, Bulgaria met the criteria for entering the eurozone.
''The President is obviously preparing a political project, my request is that he not do it at the expense of the interest of the republic. Radev should become the leader of all Eurosceptics. It is one thing for a parliamentary group to incite fears, it is another for the highest institution in the state to do so. Policies that incite people's fears are not good, not everyone is a financier, Donchev commented.
According to the published Convergence Report of the European Central Bank (ECB), since 2024 Bulgaria has made significant progress in terms of economic convergence with the eurozone. “This positive assessment of convergence paves the way for Bulgaria to introduce the euro from 1 January 2026 and become the 21st EU Member State to join the eurozone. I would like to congratulate Bulgaria for its enormous commitment to making the necessary adjustments,“ said Philip R. Lane, who is a member of the ECB Executive Board.
Donchev expressed skepticism that Kostadin Kostadinov's 52 letters to the European Union member states calling on them to veto Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone will achieve the desired result.
"I consider the PP to be a much more dangerous opposition to the euro in Europe. Their words sound much more serious abroad. So it comes to the point where they ask us "do you know what you want?", explained the Deputy Prime Minister.
The contract with "Botas"
"The contract is problematic. If the conditions and price situation allowed, the government would buy and transit gas to Western Europe, but alas, it is not possible in such volumes that would make sense of the payments, "Donchev pointed out.
The clashes in parliament
"We find ourselves in such a situation that pouring more opposition into parliament could further divide society. Much of the verbal aggression broadcast on air, when the public sees that the deputies are fighting in the plenary hall, is injecting aggression into the people. I would have hesitated on the topic of whether Tsoncho Ganev should be removed from the post of deputy speaker of parliament - for the reason already mentioned. This will lead to even greater radicalization of "Vazrazhdane" and even more aggression", commented the Minister of Innovation and Growth.
A vote of no confidence
"It is entirely possible that a vote of no confidence will bring down the government, after all, it is a minority one. I cannot predict what kind of parliamentary support we will receive. Peevski has held various positions, often criticized the cabinet for not working enough for the people. But what is the alternative? A government of the PP, "Vazrazhdane", "Velicie", MECH? Different parties have supported us, it is not just Peevski - this is typical of minority governments. I do not agree that the horizon of the government is as far as the leader of "DPS - New Beginning" decides. PP-DB has also supported us", Donchev also stated.