"It is not normal for restaurants in Italy, Austria, and Spain to have prices that are, in some respects, similar to those in Bulgaria," Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov stated in a media broadcast. He pointed out that he finds it absurd for a person to sit down in a restaurant in Sofia and then in Vienna only to see that the totals are relatively identical. The government has decided not to reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT) for the tourism industry, as, according to Pekanov, the sector has already received enough concessions and subsidies following the COVID years. Pekanov emphasized that businesses have put the economy at risk and must, therefore, adjust their prices nominally for the upcoming season.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the services sector experienced the second-highest price increase during July and August. He accused traders of taking advantage of the Eurozone accession process and the war to exploit consumers, even though their costs have not risen to an extent that would justify such a jump. "After the COVID years, they were given aid, and what did they do? In the year of the euro, they took advantage in the worst possible way, using the war and the euro as a pretext," Pekanov commented. He added that, in the long term, this approach threatens the performance of the entire tourism industry.

Against the backdrop of alarming inflation, which stands at 5.1%, Pekanov explained that the government will intervene with "soft measures" and increased regulatory oversight. He criticized the Commission for Consumer Protection and the Commission for Protection of Competition for not doing their jobs and hinted that the institutions will undergo changes. Although he noted a slight decline in food prices following the "Basket with Care" initiative, Pekanov admitted that overall inflation is rising, mainly due to oil prices, over which the government has no full control. Regarding the budget, he noted that the Ministry of Finance is finalizing proposals by department in September, but declined to provide details before the process is complete.

Pekanov also commented on the process of adopting the euro in Bulgaria, stating that although the process is strategically correct, in terms of pricing, it has been implemented in "the worst way possible." The Deputy Prime Minister touched upon the upcoming vote as well, expressing full support for Iliana Iotova, the candidate backed by the "Progressive Bulgaria" organization. He stated that she is the most qualified candidate, has years of political experience behind her, and, in her capacity as Vice President to Rumen Radev, has always taken the right positions, adding that she possesses the greatest chances of winning the upcoming elections.