Bulgaria Parliament Adopts 2010 Budget after 16 Hour Debate

Bulgaria Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov stated after the vote that "this is a good budget, the only one possible for 2010." Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Shortly after 2 am Thursday morning and after 16 hours of debate the Bulgarian Parliament finally adopted the 2010 budget.

Bulgaria Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov stated after the vote that "this is a good budget, the only one possible for 2010."

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that everyone wants a budget with more money, more meaty – not a fasting budget. "The meat is gone, but this is not down to us" he added.

Earlier the Socialist Members of the Parliament had left the second reading of the proposed 2010 State budget in sign of protest over text approved by the majority.

The MPs from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) also threatened to notify the Constitutional Court about the text providing that the Council of Ministers can reduce the non-interest expenditures under their established amount when there are economic and financial indicators that the economy’s development would be less favorable than the forecast.

The Parliament decided to air the debate live on Bulgaria’s National TV (BNT), but this was delayed to after the end of the Levski Sofia v Villarreal Europa League clash. The GERB MPs said they wanted the public to see that the socialists are not in plenary hall.

During the broadcast it became clear the majority of the BSP group had changed their mind and decided to return to the debate. GERB accused them of having dinner and a drink and upon realizing that there is a TV broadcast making the decision to come back.

The Bulgaria Parliament also rejected late Wednesday the proposal of the conservative Order, Law and Justice party (RZS) to reduce the presidential institution’s budget. The RZS MPs left the debate in protest.

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