Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev cancelled the meeting, scheduled for today, of the National Tripartite Council on the draft budget for 2006 after, in an unprecedented move, businesses decided not to take part in the discussion. According to the businesses, the draft is “leftist” and drafted without any dialogue, BNR’s Tsvetelina Stoyanova reports.

The businesses object to the planned increase in social security contributions and dividend tax, which will, they believe, weigh heavy on businesses, jeopardize investments and boost the shadow economy. The employers are not happy with the projected minimum salary for 2026 – EUR 620 per month – an increase of 12%. The businesses say the budget is ill-considered and harmful to the country.  “There is not a single reform in it. This helicopter handing out of money has to stop,” the employers say. “We were invited so we could be handed the bill we have to pay for the government waste. We are not going to be part of that. We have a responsibility to the people who work at our enterprises, to the young people because we are setting down a dark future for them if what is being discussed in the hall behind us today becomes fact,” the employers commented.

The state budget for 2026 will be the first budget in euro for the country which will adopt the single European currency in less than two months’ time.

Edited by Miglena Ivanova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photo: BTA