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

Rose picking has started in the region of Kazanlak

Rose picking has started in the rose gardens near Kazanlak, the municipality announced. Dozens of guests gathered in the rose gardens near the village of Kanchevo to learn about the traditions of growing oil-bearing roses and..

published on 5/25/25 12:25 PM
Nataliya Kiselova

Nataliya Kiselova expects Constitutional Court to put an end to dispute over the euro referendum

The Constitutional Court will partially allow the president's request, Speaker of the Parliament Nataliya Kiselova told BNT. The Constitutional Court is obliged to file a case. The dispute will be whether the request of the head of..

published on 5/25/25 12:14 PM
Director of

Theatre production of Bulgaria and North Macedonia wins three Askeer awards

Alessandro Baricco’s immortal story “Without Blood” in the theatrical adaptation by Alexander Sekulov won the Bulgarian “Askeer” theatre awards in three categories - for best performance, for direction and for costume design. The..

published on 5/25/25 10:48 AM