The 2023 state budget does not tighten belts and does not cut social costs, Bulgaria’s Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev said for the BNR. We manage to collect taxes and maintain social spending without raising taxes. We inherited from the caretaker cabinet a deficit of EUR 600 million at the end of May, and in June there is a surplus of EUR 100 million, Assen Vassilev explained.

The targeted GDP growth of 1.8% will be achieved. There are no concerns that the budget deficit will exceed 3%. "The budget framework is going to withstand unless a second Chernobyl happens at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Any requests for wage increases lead to new demands. Money should not be poured into unreformed sectors. If MPs support pay rises in some sectors, that is their decision”, Minister Vassilev added.