Velev and Hristova criticize Bulgaria budget

Bulgaria’s business community is objecting to a proposed national budget that critics say fails to address fundamental economic challenges. Vasil Velev from the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria stated that his organization refuses to support what he characterized as a damaging fiscal plan, while former Social Affairs Minister Hristina Hristova expressed disappointment that authorities missed an opportunity to implement reforms before joining the eurozone.

The spending blueprint primarily benefits several hundred thousand workers in law enforcement, universities, and the judicial system through salary increases, according to Velev. He argued that the budget harms most citizens by raising insurance contributions and noted that compensation grows where it already sits at elevated levels, citing monthly costs per Interior Ministry employee reaching 7,000 leva.

Hristova pointed to widespread vacancies in government offices where young recruits frequently depart after three months. She criticized automatic wage adjustments disconnected from productivity gains or capital investment, suggesting that average salary metrics provide inadequate guidance for determining compensation floors.