Stanishev Slams Bulgaria's 2013 State Budget

Bulgaria's draft state budget for 2013 is weak and lacking in real policy, according to PES and Bulgarian Socialist Party leader Sergey Stanishev.

Stanishev spoke about the budget proposed by FinMin Simeon Djankov during a visit to the city of Yambol Saturday.

"It is easier to say what's not in this budget than to say what's really inside," said the socialist leader.

According to him, the only difference with previous state budgets by the center-right GERB cabinet is a raise of retirement pensions mere months ahead of general elections in the summer of 2013.

"The ruling party has 3 years in office, during which it froze pensions, and now it raises them just 3 months before elections," protested Stanishev.

"This is an insults. Pensions are eaten up by inflation and the proposed raise will not recover them," added he.

The socialist leader further said that the new budget does not involve any stimulus policies to boost production and overcome unemployment, which he said is a major problem pressing Bulgaria.

Stanishev further slammed Djankov's idea to introduce a regionally differentiated minimum wage for the country as unfair and breaching the rule of equal payment for equal labor.