Asen Vasilev: "Progressive Bulgaria" takes 2.39 euros from every pensioner and avoids real reforms

New tensions in the ruling majority have been sparked by "Progressive Bulgaria's" proposals for changes to pensions, national debt, and party subsidies. The leader of "We Continue the Change", "Asen Vasilev", accused PB of "taking 2 euros from every pensioner" instead of supporting those in the most difficult situation, while the co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria", "Bozhidar Bozhanov", described the plans to reduce the subsidy as pure populism.

Asen Vasilev: "PB takes 2 euros and 39 cents from the increase of every pension"

In a public statement, "Asen Vasilev" criticized the intentions of "Progressive Bulgaria" to abolish the Covid supplement to pensions. According to him, instead of helping the most vulnerable pensioners reach the poverty line, the ruling authorities "want to cut 2 euros and 39 cents from the pension increase of every single pensioner".

Vasilev emphasizes that at the same time, PB is not touching the "50 percent salary increase in the security services". According to him, this shows a clear hierarchy of priorities – at the expense of elderly people who rely on every increase, even if it is only a few euros.

Dispute over maternity leave and the anti-crisis package

The PP leader also criticized PB's decision not to change the rules for maternity leave. "Furthermore, they say they will not change the rules for maternity leave? Why?", he asks, reminding that "We Continue the Change" have submitted two concrete proposals.

The first provides for "mothers to receive 100% of their maternity pay when they return to work", which according to Vasilev is "good for the mother, good for the employer, and is at zero cost to the budget". The second proposal is for the state to cover the mother's health insurance during maternity leave so that businesses do not pay costs for workers who are not actually working. According to him, this would cost "26 million euros – less than 10% of the increase in expenses for coffee, cars, and administration maintenance from January to May".

Vasilev: there are funds in the fiscal reserve, the new debt is unnecessary

Regarding the intention to take out external debt amounting to 3.8 billion euros to complete projects under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), "Asen Vasilev" stated on TV1 that the government's explanation is "absolutely untenable".

He points out that there are 4.8 billion euros in "free resources" in the fiscal reserve, which he believes are sufficient for payments under the RRP. Additionally, according to Ministry of Finance data, revenues are about 20% higher compared to the same period last year, which, according to Vasilev, further calls into question the need for new debt.

"The budget is a matter of priorities"

In his statement, "Asen Vasilev" insists on reordering expenditures and freezing administrative maintenance costs. "Let's freeze the maintenance costs (as we did in 2023) and provide over 600 million euros for an anti-crisis package", he urges.

He concludes that "the budget is a matter of priorities, not accounting calculations" and calls on "Progressive Bulgaria" to "urgently fix its priorities", especially on the topics of pensions, maternity leave, and social support.

Bozhidar Bozhanov: "Populism can replace reforms only temporarily"

The co-chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria", "Bozhidar Bozhanov", also sent sharp criticism towards the ruling authorities, this time over the intention to reduce the party subsidy. In a post, he states: "Populism can replace reforms only temporarily. Then comes the bill".

According to him, the decision to reduce the subsidy is a typical populist move: "Reducing the party subsidy is populism – certainly no one will miss the bad parties and their finances". He emphasizes that at the same time, a "new debt of 3.8 billion euros" is being proposed while reducing the subsidy, which will save "under 3 million euros".

3.8 billion euros of debt against 3 million euros "saved" from subsidies

Bozhanov defines as "populism" the attempt to cover up the taking of 3.8 billion euros in debt and the "unfortunate development of the discussion on maternity benefits" by saving about 3 million euros from party subsidies. He also criticizes the way this is being done – through transitional and final provisions between the first and second reading, retroactively.

"Parties are a key instrument of democracy", Bozhanov reminds, and points out that the subsidy was created to avoid "black boxes" and dependencies on businesses that later expect favors in return. He emphasizes that in most European countries, it is state subsidies that are the primary mechanism for financing parties.

Unresolved reforms and questionable personnel decisions

In his statement, "Bozhidar Bozhanov" draws attention to the fact that real reforms in key systems have not yet begun. He lists "the Ministry of Interior, the NHIF budget, TELK, the administration, public procurement" as areas where there are neither clearly stated nor visible changes.

He also criticizes personnel decisions such as the return of "Ivanka Dineva" to the Executive Agency "Medical Oversight" and "Rosen Hristov" to the board of the State Consolidation Company, which "during the time of GERB" was associated with the draining of hundreds of millions. According to him, this calls into question the sincerity of the claims for fighting corruption and abuse.

Opposition with a smaller voice and fewer resources

Bozhanov warns that the changes to the parliamentary rules, combined with a lower subsidy, aim not only to limit the financial resources of the opposition but also to reduce its voice. According to him, "tomorrow, on the 'opposition day' – the opposition actually has no right to propose anything", and with a lower subsidy, it will also have fewer resources for operations.

"We will manage even with a reduced subsidy, and still without black boxes and shady donations. We will not complain. But the direction is not good", Bozhanov concludes and reminds again: "Populism can replace reforms only temporarily. Then comes the bill."