Bulgaria’s MPs are discussing at a second reading the draft state budget for 2022. It envisages a budget deficit of EUR 2.8 billion. According to the draft document, Bulgaria will be able to issue government bonds to the tune of EUR 3.7 billion.

The opposition GERB party is demanding that the government withdraw the draft state budget, or rename it. The proposal was made by ex-Finance Minister Kiril Ananiev, with the motive that the cabinet has already stated its intention of updating the budget in summer. In this way the bill, the discussion of which began in parliament at second reading, will not be yearly. That is why Kiril Ananiev proposed that it is re-named to “base budget” if the proposal for its withdrawal is rejected.

National Assembly President Nikola Minchev explained that the first proposal was inadmissible according to the rules of organization and procedureof the National Assembly, but that the second option, put forward by Kiril Ananiev, was not subject to a vote in parliament either.

Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and many of the cabinet ministers are attending the parliamentary debate on the draft state budget.