Why did Vice President Iliana Iotova sign the 2026 budget?
Despite strong public pressure and calls for a veto, Vice President Iliana Iotova announced that she would promulgate the 2026 State Budget Act. The decision comes after a thorough analysis of 69 received opinions and concerns regarding institutional collapse.
"I cannot allow any more institutional and financial uncertainty for the state," Iotova emphasized.
Key arguments for the promulgation:
- Avoiding chaos: Returning the law for further discussion would have blocked the work of municipalities, social payments, healthcare, and education.
- Financial discipline: The Vice President acknowledged that concerns regarding the budget deficit are valid, but emphasized the need for the state to function normally.
- The Eurozone and the budget process: The country already operates in euros, and the excessive deficit procedure opened by the EC requires predictability.
Criticisms and next steps
Iotova noted that over 3 billion euros in old debts remain unpaid, which complicates planning. Although PP and GERB-UDF threatened to go to the Constitutional Court, the presidential legal team did not find grounds for unconstitutionality in the voted document.
The focus now shifts to the preparation of the 2027 budget, where real reforms and precise risk analysis are expected.