The largest trade union in Bulgaria, CITUB, has called for a 10% wage rise in the budget sector from July 1, 2023, in order to compensate for projected inflation.

The president of the trade union, Plamen Dimitrov, commented that if the requirement for a 3% budget deficit was not met for one or several years, the long-term fiscal outlook for Bulgaria would not be affected. Dimitrov added that the Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the EU allowed a deviation from the Maastricht rules for a ratio of 60% debt to GDP. Bulgaria should also request a review of the 3% deficit requirement, according to him. The increased deficit does not lead to disruption of the long-term fiscal perspective, Dimitrov claims.

Translation and publication by Al. Markov