Bulgarian MPs approve bill to prolong 2024 Budget Act provisions
Bulgaria’s National Assembly approved at second reading on January 15 a bill extending the duration of the provisions of the 2024 Budget Act until a new budget bill is passed, but no later than March 31.
Under this framework, in the absence of a Budget for the current year, central and local government can continue to spend within the limits set in last year’s Budget, but not higher than the revenue already collected this year.
It is the third time in the last four years that Parliament has failed to pass a Budget package before January 1 – the previous occasions were in 2022 and 2023 – as a succession of short-lived legislatures have failed to formally invest a government.
Although Parliament can pass a Budget package drafted by a caretaker Cabinet, the current 51st National Assembly has declined to debate the draft bills tabled by the Dimitar Glavchev caretaker administration, given that talks to form a regular government in this legislature appear to have ended successfully and an investiture vote expected in the coming days.
(Photo: parliament.bg)
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