Bulgaria's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has announced no state money will be given for the construction of the Belene nuclear plant.
"As long as I am the finance minister, the state will not give money for the Belene NPP or for state guarantees for its construction," Djankov said Sunday in an interview for the Bulgarian private TV channel bTV.
He also said that in 2011, Bulgaria will increase its national debt by less than BGN 2,4 B, which is the maximum growth, envisioned in the 2011 budget draft.
Djankov has explained that the reforms turned out to be more difficult than the initial expectations of the government but will nevertheless be completed.
He refused to comment on the lack of reforms in the Interior Ministry and said that the other Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, will decide, together with the Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, what is best to be done in the ministry.
On Sunday, Bulgarian police employees staged their second in a row weekend protest rally. The demonstrators aimed at improving their work conditions and obtaining more modern equipment. Demands also included adequate overtime pay.