Bulgaria's budget under fire for tax hikes and spending plans

Former economy minister Cornelia Ninova warned that the new budget could create a large blow to the minimum wage, citing proposals for sector‑specific minimum wages and tax increases despite previous promises not to raise taxes. She highlighted rising capital expenditures, higher social‑security thresholds and a growing debt burden, noting that the National Bank has cut its growth forecast to 2.8% and raised inflation expectations to around 6%.

Former finance minister Alexander Simov described the budget as short‑term, lacking reforms, and linked to the upcoming presidential election. He pointed to the expansion of ministries, the shift of social‑security contributions to civil servants, and the overall size of the deficit, calling the plan unsustainable.

Both politicians criticised the government's fiscal direction, warning of debt risks and limited economic stabilization measures.