Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Parliament adopts the 2023 budget at first reading

Photo: БГНЕС

Bulgaria's Parliament approved the 2023 state budget in the first reading with 156 votes in favor. The support came from GERB-SDS, PP-DB and DPS deputies. The "BSP for Bulgaria" and the parties "Wazrazhdane" and "There is Such a People" (ITN) voted against.
"This budget is not revolutionary, it continues the policies and best practices started in the last years. We have managed to maintain a 3 percent deficit for the third year in a row and to adjust spending to existing resources without affecting Bulgarian citizens," Finance Minister Assen Vasilev said.
Despite its support, GERB-SDS said that the budget does not solve a single problem and does not envisage serious reform.
According to BSP Chair Kornelia Ninova, the government's measures hinder the work of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The state plan envisages 69.5 billion leva (35.53 billion euros) in revenue. They are to come from better tax and fee collection by the tax and customs authorities, a 100 percent dividend from state-owned enterprises and economic growth of 1.8 percent. 
Expenditures are to amount to 74 billion leva, while social benefits are to be maintained - an increase in pensions according to the Swiss rule, a minimum wage of 780 leva and a poverty line of 504 leva are planned.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Chief commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov

Over 43,000 euros found in those who demanded bribes from drivers of Robbie Williams' equipment

The two employees of the Executive Agency "Automobile Administration", who demanded bribes from foreign truck drivers transporting equipment for Robbie Williams' mega show, have been fired , brought to criminal liability and detained for 72 hours...

published on 9/29/25 7:05 PM

Partly cloudy skies and autumn-like temperatures expected on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the lowest temperatures will range from 5°C to 10°C, up to 13°C along the Black Sea coast. In Sofia the lowest temperature will be around 6°C. It will be mostly sunny during the day. In the afternoon, cloudiness will increase over the..

published on 9/29/25 6:30 PM

An increasing number of Bulgarians travel abroad, Greece is the most-preferred destination

In August 2025, the number of trips abroad made by Bulgarians totalled 1,078,900, which is a 19.4% increase compared to August 2024, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The largest numbers of trips abroad by Bulgarians..

published on 9/29/25 2:20 PM