Ninova warns Bulgaria faces years of debt slavery

Bulgaria faces mounting fiscal problems through 2028 if the current coalition remains in office, according to Cornelia Ninova, who leads Unruly Bulgaria. Speaking on Tuesday, she warned that examining the proposed 2026 budget alongside its three-year projections reveals deteriorating conditions ahead.

National debt will climb from 37.6 billion euros next year to 43.5 billion euros in 2027 before reaching 49 billion euros by 2028, Ninova said. Workers will face social security contribution increases of two percentage points in 2026 and an additional point by 2028, while maximum insurable income thresholds rise annually from 2,352 euros to 2,659 euros during the same period. Meanwhile, the child-rearing benefits of 460 euros for children under age two will remain unchanged through 2028, along with all other welfare payments.

Ninova criticized the governing parties for accumulating debt while imposing greater payroll burdens without ensuring higher wages. Small businesses will face additional costs without receiving digital tools or reduced red tape, she said. The coalition provides no meaningful assistance to families or solutions for demographic decline, Ninova added.