Budget 2026: Key proposals for changes

The Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance is gathering for an extraordinary meeting to vote at second reading on nearly 70 proposals to the 2026 state budget bill. The changes submitted by all political parties affect a wide spectrum of public and economic life.

The 2026 budget draft provides for a deficit of 5.7% of GDP, with total expenditures amounting to 56.8 billion euros with an expected economic growth of 2.6%.

Main highlights in the proposals:

  • Child healthcare and social policies: GERB-UDF proposes 10 million euros for a National Children's Hospital. DPS insists on linking the childbirth allowance to the national average salary (about 1,407 euros).
  • Infrastructure and education: We Continue the Change proposes large-scale programs for the renovation of schools, kindergartens, and student dormitories with a budget of over 600 million euros.
  • Income regulation: It is proposed to limit salaries in public enterprises in relation to those of MPs and ministers, as well as a new mechanism for remuneration at the Financial Supervision Commission.
  • Gambling: Venko Sabrutev proposes a strict ban on gambling advertising with limited exceptions.
  • National security: An increase of the State Agency for Technical Operations (SATO) budget by 2.6 million euros for equipment maintenance is planned.

Democratic Bulgaria proposes optimization measures that would reduce the budget deficit from 7.3 billion euros to 3.9 billion euros through tightening expenditures and increasing VAT collection.