Trade Union Leader: Bulgarian Fiscal Revenue Worse Than Declared

Podkrepa trade union leader Konstantin Trenchev (L) and Bulgarian Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov. Photo by BGNES

There are indications that state revenue in Bulgaria is significantly lower than what is touted by Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, according to the president of Podkrepa trade union Konstantin Trenchev.

"There is a discrepancy between words and facts. Sources from the Bulgarian National Bank and the Ministry of Finance are telling us that revenue is not as large as claimed, and what is more, that it is not sufficient," said Trenchev in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio.

The Podkrepa leader further drew attention to what he saw as the discrepancy between FinMin Djankov's statements that income from the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency is very good, and his persistent criticisms of their work.

In the interview Plamen Dimitrov, the president of the other major Bulgarian trade union, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (KNSB), stated that trade unions will request an increase of about 10% of all state revenues in the 2012 state budget.

Dimitrov also said that KNSB together with Podkrepa will insist in front of government and employers' organization for an all-out increase in retirement pensions and the national minimum wage.

PM Boyko Borisov's center-right GERB cabinet has been giving signals it might be willing to up the pensions and minimum wage, but have extended that measure for the indeterminate future, citing unsufficient recovery and other top fiscal priorities.

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