Vazrazhdane MP blasts pension system, eurozone, fuel crisis

Tsveta Rangelova from the Vazrazhdane party criticized Bulgaria’s private pension funds as a pyramid scheme during her appearance on a morning television program, arguing that these companies distribute roughly 300 million leva annually to reduce actual retirement contributions while lacking bankruptcy protections available through the National Social Security Institute. Redirecting these resources to the state pension system would address much of its deficit, she argued.

The lawmaker defended her party’s doctrine, calling for state reorganization, proposing a semi-presidential republic where the president appoints the Council of Ministers while parliament maintains oversight. Additional reforms would cut the assembly from 240 members to between 180 and 200 and eliminate the prosecutor general position by transferring those duties to the justice minister. She dismissed authoritarianism concerns by stating that laws should not be written around individual personalities.

Rangelova condemned the euro adoption process as rushed and opaque, claiming that manipulated inflation and deficit statistics facilitated entry into the currency zone. She cited rising costs for businesses to modify cash registers and price increases outpacing income growth as evidence of negative effects. On fuel supply concerns, she faulted officials for merely asking whether they can request permission to keep the refinery operating rather than taking action. She characterized the current administration as serving the interests of DPS – New Beginnings’ leadership.