The meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., and the deputies will discuss three bills. The first point is the extended budget, the original purpose of which was to guarantee the normal financing of the state until the adoption of a regular budget and to ensure the increase of pensions from July 1.
Between the first and second reading, the ruling party from “Progressive Bulgaria” submitted a series of additional proposals.
Among them is the abolition of the COVID supplement for newly granted pensions. From the published information, it is not clear at the moment whether the change will affect only future pensioners or has a wider scope, and this is expected to become clear during the discussion of the texts in the committee.
Another proposed change is a reduction of the state subsidy for political parties – from 4 to 3 euros for each actual vote.
The most important financial text envisages that the Ministry of Finance will be able to draw up to 3.8 billion euros of additional foreign debt. According to the submitted proposals, the aim is to provide resources for launching projects under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, where the state must provide funding in advance.
The topic of the new debt has already caused controversy. Critics of the measure warn that the extension budget is being used to push through important financial decisions without a comprehensive debate on government spending. The managers respond that without a temporary resource, part of the investments under the European programs may be delayed.
After the budget, the committee will consider changes to the law on the regulation of economic activities related to oil and oil products. They provide for limiting the powers of the special manager in certain cases of state control.
The last item on the agenda are amendments to the Water Act. It is proposed to introduce different tariffs for water for households and businesses – an idea which, according to the importers, aims at a clearer differentiation of the price policy, but already raises concerns about price increases for some consumers.
