Petkova blasted as 5 billion vanishes in budget row

Bulgarian opposition leaders demanded on Tuesday that Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova immediately retract the government’s proposed 2026 budget, calling it dangerously left-leaning and harmful to the nation’s economy.

Ivaylo Mirchev, who serves as co-chairman of Yes Bulgaria, spoke to reporters outside the National Assembly and criticized what he described as fiscal mismanagement. He referenced concerns raised by Martin Dimitrov and the party’s economic advisers about an unexplained 5 billion leva deficit in the spending plan. Mirchev warned the budget could create conditions similar to those during the administration of former Prime Minister Zhan Videnov. He also attacked plans for SUPTO, a new government software mandating installation in all commercial businesses by January 1, 2026. Mirchev estimated implementation costs would reach 200 million to 300 million leva minimum and said retailers lack adequate preparation time.

Dimitrov, an economist representing the PP-DB coalition, joined calls to reverse proposed dividend tax increases and higher social security contribution caps. Both lawmakers questioned why current budget projections differ sharply from frameworks the Finance Ministry presented seven months earlier. They urged authorities to reduce planned government spending from 46 percent back to 40 percent of economic output.