Bulgaria‘s Parliament Assures No Drama Despite Delay in State Budget Approval
Bulgaria’s parliamentary chair, Natalie Kiseleva, has stated that there’s no cause for concern over the delay in the state budget approval for 2025, as the Law on Public Finances provides a contingency plan for such scenarios. She made this statement to journalists amidst celebrations in Kakolfer marking the 177th birthday of Hristo Botev.
"On December 31, at 13:28, the Council of Ministers submitted a draft law proposing modifications to prolong the validity of the 2024 budget," Kiseleva explained. "The Budget and Finance Committee will address this project next Tuesday, alongside discussions on tax bills and other projects."
When asked about the timeline for voting on this project, Kiseleva noted that it depends on the Budget and Finance Committee’s schedule. She also addressed the temporary VAT increase on bread, emphasizing that it’s a provisional measure and the government’s proposal will determine whether it’s retracted or maintained.
On the anticipated timeline for the 2025 budget, Kiseleva suggested that, given the brevity of the government’s submitted project, it could potentially be approved by the National Assembly and published in the State Gazette within January.
Regarding ongoing negotiations to form a government, Kiseleva expressed that the largest parliamentary group is leading the process, aiming to prevent another presidential election procedure. She maintained that she has no personal engagement in these negotiations.
