"Democratic Bulgaria": Mechanical budget cuts for culture are unacceptable

"Democratic Bulgaria" (DB) expressed strong disagreement with the decision to mechanically reduce funding for the cultural sector by 10%. According to the coalition, this is not a reform but a "blanket accounting measure" that further punishes one of the most underfunded sectors in the country.

Requirement for transparency and analysis

DB insists that the Ministry of Culture present a clear public analysis of the state of institutions. Key questions that must be answered include:

• Which institutions are experiencing real deficits?
• What are the needs for salaries, maintenance, and the preservation of collections?
• How will regional access to culture be ensured?

"Culture is not an expense that can be crossed out with a single line in a spreadsheet. It is an investment in knowledge, society, and the future," the political coalition states.

Cultural institutes—from theaters to libraries—received instructions to cut expenses immediately after May 24th. DB considers this approach morally flawed, emphasizing that sectors with larger payrolls and higher costs remain "protected," while culture is subjected to blind cuts.