Protocol for holding elections in pandemic being prepared

“I have not received enough information that would help me make an informed decision and schedule the date of the forthcoming Parliamentary elections”, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev said today after the first round of consultations on fair and transparent elections guaranteeing the right to vote and the health of citizens. "As President, it is extremely important for me that both the constitutional right of Bulgarians to vote in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections and their health are guaranteed", Bulgaria’s Head of State Rumen Radev said. Such elections have taken place in a number of countries such as the United States, France, Germany, South Korea, Israel, Poland, Croatia, Romania and North Macedonia, President Radev pointed out. Minister of Health Angelov said that a protocol for holding the elections in a pandemic situation was being prepared and specified that the document would be presented after the president announced the date of the vote. Temporary lifting of quarantine for those placed in isolation in order for them to vote is also being considered.

Prime Minister says government is ready for elections on March 28

"The Bulgarian government is ready for elections on March 28 and the medical protocol is being prepared for this date. President Radev already announced that the regular elections should be held on March 28 next year. If he is now wondering how to postpone the elections he can do so. It is entirely within his powers. No one can forecast what would happen on March 28, including the World Health Organization, let alone Health Minister Angelov”, Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov said in Veliko Tarnovo. “March 28 has been already announced as an election date. We are getting ready for elections and preparing the medical protocol for this date. "If someone could forecast what will happen on March 28, he would be the head of the World Health Organization," Premier Borissov said further, quoted by Trud newspaper.

More taxes collected in 2020 compared to 2019

The total revenues to Bulgaria's National Revenue Agency (NRA) in 2020 amount to BGN 25 billion (EUR 12.8 billion). This means the revenues are BGN 700 million (EUR 358 million) more than the planned revenues and BGN 1.1 billion (506 million) more than those in 2019, according to the NRA. Despite the Covid crisis, businesses and citizens have paid their taxes and social security contributions. The trend of growth of revenues in the treasury has been preserved. Last year it was about 5%. In 2020, tax revenue amounted to BGN 14 billion (EUR 7.2 billion), of which over BGN 2.6 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) were paid by businesses for corporate taxes. A total of BGN 3.7 billion (EUR 1.9 billion) was paid as personal income tax. VAT revenue amounts to BGN 7.6 billion (EUR 3.9 billion). Revenue from social security contributions amounts to BGN 10.6 billion (EUR 5.4 billion), the BGNES agency reported.

Bulgaria reports 9.55% new infections out of 10,774 tests in past day

Bulgaria has reported 1,029 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours with 10,774 tests performed, the National Coronavirus Information Portal shows. Out of all tests performed, 5,435 were PCR tests with 525 positive samples. 5,339 were antigen tests with 504 positive samples. There were 157 new fatalities in the past day, bringing the total Covid-19 death toll to 7,835 since the beginning of the pandemic. A total of 124,624 people have recovered, of which 2,213 in the past 24 hours. There are currently 4,405 hospitalized patients with coronavirus, as 411 are in intensive care units. The confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bulgaria since the beginning of the pandemic reach 204,080. The active cases now stand at 71,621. The total number of tests performed is 1,173,704.

About 1 million Bulgarians have already had Covid-19

There is indirect evidence that the new Covid-19 strain spreading in the UK is already in Bulgaria, Director of the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Professor Todor Kantardzhiev has told Dir.bg. "It is very important to know that the mutation does not impede inoculation and diagnosis and also that there is no medical evidence that the new strain is more contagious. Most importantly - there is no evidence that the new strain causes more serious symptoms," Kantardzhiev said. About 1 million Bulgarians have already had Covid-19. They stand a very low chance of becoming re-infected. It is medically proven worldwide that 1 person in 2 million patients is re-infected with the coronavirus, Professor Kantardzhiev adds.

Lower budget deficit for 2020 than planned

The budget deficit for 2020 is expected to amount to BGN 3.6 billion (EUR 1.84 billion) instead of the BGN 5.2 billion (EUR 2.65 billion) recorded in the law. Bulgaria's Finance Ministry forecasts that the deficit will be 3% of the expected GDP. The funds are aimed at combating the effects of the pandemic. 2.8 billion (1.43 billion) has been spent on various fiscal stimuli in the economy. BGN 800 million (EUR 409 million) were redirected from the funds under various EU programmes. The total revenues in the treasury for 2020 will be BGN 44.2 billion (EUR 22.6 billion) compared to the preliminarily planned BGN 43.5 billion (22.2 billion). This is an over-performance in the revenue part by over 1.5% than what was planned. Due to the measures for coping with the impact of the pandemic, government spending last year reached BGN 47.8 billion (EUR 24.4 billion), while in 2019 it was BGN 45.2 billion (EUR 23.1 billion), BTA reported.

Compiled by: Darina Grigorova

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