Bulgarian PM says will withdraw 2026 Budget package after protest
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov said on November 27 that the Cabinet will withdraw the 2026 Budget package, which the National Assembly passed at first reading last week, following a large protest against the draft Budget held outside Parliament the previous evening.
Zhelyazkov made the announcement after meeting with representatives of the parliamentary groups backing his minority Cabinet, saying that the government would seek to “re-establish dialogue” with trade unions, employer associations and opposition parties on the Budget.
He gave no timeline for when the Budget could be re-submitted to the National Assembly, but said that “there is enough time in December” to hold those talks and iron out “the defects” in the draft Budget.
The new iteration of the Budget package should still be balanced and reflect the goals of the constituent parties in the government coalition, ensuring that there is no uncertainty and instability on the eve of Bulgaria joining the euro zone on January 1, he said.
Zhelyazkov’s government tabled the Budget without having held the usual consultative meetings with trade unions and employer groups, after the latter refused to participate in protest against the Budget’s proposed revenue-raising measures – mainly the increase in the social security contributions and the dividend tax raise.
Opposition We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria has welcomed the Cabinet’s intention to withdraw the Budget, echoing employer groups demands to remove the increase in the social security contributions and the dividend tax raise, but pro-Russian Vuzrazhdane has called for continued protests and demanded the resignation of the Zhelyazkov government.
(Rossen Zhelyazkov photo: government.bg)
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