Rightists Slam Bulgaria Govt over 'Racketeering' of Businesses

Rightist leader Martin Dimitrov slammed the government over "racketeering" private companies. Photo by BGNES

The right-wing Blue Coalition has slammed the Borisov government for its policies regarding the repayment of debts owed by the state to private contractors.

Recently, Bulgaria’s Finance Minister Simeon Djankov announced the government’s intention to pay the money it owes to private companies in the coming months.

The specific offer of the Cabinet is that if firms give up 10% of the sum owed to them by the state, they will get their money from the state very soon – i.e. in February-March 2010. If they do not agree to those terms, they would have to wait for whenever the state has more money available.

One of the Co-Chairs of the rightist Blue Coalition which in principle backs the Borisov government, Martin Dimitrov criticized the government for not having a clear program for repaying its debts to the private sector.

“Currently, we see the government trying a “racketeering approach” - those businesses who give up 10%, get their money immediately. I have information that managers are looking for friends and acquaintances in the government in attempts to get all of their money,” Dimitrov declared.

In his words, the government is doing the same thing by delaying VAT refunds – keeping for itself the money of other entities. He asked for a public register of all state debts.

Dimitrov also criticized PM Borisov for trying to get EU funding for Bulgaria through his contacts with certain European politicians.

The UDF Chair warned that unless emergency measures were taken, 100 000 more jobs might be lost in Bulgaria in 2010, which means the loss of BGN 500 M in taxes, and of another BGN 150 M that would go for unemployment benefits.

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