Bulgarian MPs approve bill to further extend 2025 Budget Act provisions
Bulgaria’s National Assembly approved at second reading on March 18 a bill extending the duration of the provisions of the 2025 Budget Act until a Budget package for 2026 is adopted.
In December, Parliament initially extended the provisions of the 2025 Budget until March 31.
With no prospect for a Budget package passing in the current National Assembly before the April 19 early elections and Parliament slated to go into recess for the electoral campaign, this week was the last opportunity for the MPs to pass the extension and ensure the continued orderly operation of the public sector.
Bulgaria’s law on public finances allows, in the absence of a Budget approved by Parliament, to extend the provisions of the previous year’s Budget.
Under this framework, central and local government will be able to continue to spend within the limits set in 2025 Budget, but not higher than the revenue collected in 2026.
Bulgaria has made use of the budget extension mechanism in 2021 and 2022, when a series of short-lived parliaments failed to elect a government, delaying the passing of a Budget package.
(Photo: parliament.bg)
Please support independent journalism by clicking on the button below. For as little as three euro a month or the equivalent in other currencies, you can support The Sofia Globe via patreon.com and get access to exclusive subscriber-only content:
