Bulgarian EconMin Tangled in 'Bonus War'

Socialist MP Anton Kutev has accused the government of giving generous bonuses to own politicians. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, had received in 2010 the most money as extra income – BGN 36 960.

The information was reported by the Member of the Parliament from the opposition, left-wing Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, Anton Kutev, cited by the Bulgarian "Trud" (Labor) daily.

The data has been taken out of the income tax declarations of senior officials, submitted in 2011 with the National Audit Office, NAO.

Others, who have gotten significant amounts above their regular pay are: the recently dismissed Deputy Health Minister, Gergana Pavlova (BGN 20 281), Education Minister, Sergey Ignatov (BGN 29 000), and Deputy Finance Minister, Vladislav Goranov (BGN 18 480).

"It is a fact that these sums have been in addition to their contract salaries, meaning that these are not amounts that can come from dividends – the latter are listed in another column. The 2011 extra money will become clear in mid-April, when all declarations will be submitted with NAO," said Kutev.

He stressed that it is totally unacceptable to give so much money not only to State servants, but to politicians in times their ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, is talking non-stop how the crisis had overburdened the country and when they have frozen for three years wages and retirement pensions, placing Bulgarians in survival mode.

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