Bulgarian Parliament is going to discuss Tuesday at first reading the draft 2010 State Budget bill proposed by the GERB government and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov.

The draft budget bill projects an economic growth of the Bulgarian economy of -2,5% in 2010, and a budget deficit of 0,7%.

It envisages no hikes in the salaries of state employees and in retirement pensions over 2010, a 2% reduction of the social security payments, and increase of the excise tax on cigarettes.

Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has presented the 2010 State Budget as a pizza, which might be small and meatless because of the crisis but at least was real and well-apportioned.

Finance Minister Djankov has been slammed by trade unions, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, and some NGOs because the envisaged drops in some social sectors.

Djankov has argued the new budget was practically balanced, and was based on limiting state spending because of decreased state revenue as a result of the severe economic crisis.

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