Budget brawl as Mirchev roasts “rhinoceros” crew

Ivaylo Mirchev, a co-chairman of the Yes, Bulgaria party, strongly criticized the newly passed state budget following its initial approval. He accused the ruling majority of attempting to buy the administration’s silence with the plan, citing disproportionate salary increases for certain ministries. Mirchev declared that the government had destroyed social dialogue with business.

He called for public protests against the budget, urging all citizens who oppose what he termed looting to gather around the National Assembly. Mirchev asserted that the budget raises social security contributions and taxes, including the dividend tax. He warned that a progressive tax and a value-added tax increase would follow, ultimately bankrupting the country.

During his speech, Mirchev directly addressed Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, telling her not to interrupt him and labeling her a straw man for Yordan Tsonev, whom he called the real finance minister. He also pointed to lawmaker Dragomir Stoynev, claiming his faction endorsed the budget as extremely leftist.