06.12.2023
Prime Minister Acad. Nikolai Denkov noted some of the cabinet’s main achievements at the beginning of today’s sitting:
“We took office exactly half a year ago as we were well aware that we meet public expectations for a stable government that will see to people and businesses. We knew that in addition to facing the clock, we are confronted with unsettled problems and electoral populism, fierce political attacks and misinformation. Every day we were aware that the tasks were tough and support was uncertain. Yet we have shown that we are a team that can shake off political ambition, ignore malicious attacks and focus on real problems. The first task was to fight inflation. From the very first day, the government’s main goal was not just to stop the shrinking of the Bulgarians’ purse; also we sought to support their purchasing ability. Here are the facts: inflation went down to the prewar levels. In October 2021, it was 6%. In October 2023, it is 5.8% and is the lowest in the past two years. For the first time we introduced measures to ensure permanently low prices for essential commodities. By the “Affordable for You” program, the government supported also the Bulgarian food industries. We promised the Bulgarians to have better and cheaper food produced in Bulgaria and we keep our word. Christmas 2023 will be better than Christmas 2022. The prices of basic foodstuffs in the markets are below last year’s levels and hold an even better outlook for the future. Owing to the budget approved, the income levels outpace the annual inflation. The 2024 budget sets a new 11% increase of income levels, which is several-fold below the expected inflation. We started the reform of the Judiciary, not verbally but with substantial steps. Only half a year ago, the control on the Prosecutor General and the anticorruption legislation seemed like a political utopia but now they are an accomplished fact. Although these efforts are important primarily for justice in Bulgaria, they are equally appreciated by our partners. Europe has lifted the special monitoring and recognizes that we have all the justifiable reasons for accession to Schengen. We are sure that the Netherlands and Austria understand that. For the first time we put in place large-scale decentralization of the municipalities’ finances. In 2024, the municipal administrations will receive BGN one billion and will receive it for projects awarded not on the basis of party inclinations but holding a construction permit or a design visa according to the priorities of the municipalities. The first helicopters for the aerial emergency medical service are expected to land in January and the new emergency ambulances to arrive before Christmas. A real start was given with the financing for Unit 7 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). This is an investment in the national energy security and ensures long-term lower electricity prices.
“This is part of Bulgaria’s high-tech development. A major task in the past six months was to unlock the construction of roads and motorways. The key projects are the Vidin-Botevgrad Road, the Rousse-Veliko Turnovo Motorway and the Europe Motorway. They are a step towards economic recovery, especially in North Bulgaria. Therefore we ensured the preparation and financing for next year. Investment in the economy increased by more than 50% over last year and now exceeds BGN 6 billion. Projects have been launched under European competitiveness and innovation programs where businesses can be awarded BGN 427 million. When a business earns more, higher wages will be paid. It is our common task to make this transformation from the economy of ‘cheap labor force’ to the economy of ‘high added value’. People are most important for us. We have incorporated a set of financially secured measures into the 2023 and 2024 budgets to boost births and to make it easier for parents to raise their children. To summarize: of the 687 measures in the government’s 18-month program, more than 65 – about 60% are expected to be completed by the end of February when our governance program will be halfway through. The only purpose for this government to operate is, if Bulgaria is moving in the right direction, for the benefit of people and businesses and towards Europe.”
