Bulgaria’s 2026 Budget Stays Unchanged After GERB Meets Unions
Bulgaria’s ruling party does not plan to alter the proposed state budget for 2026, following a meeting between union leaders and GERB chairman Boyko Borissov
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB
A recent survey conducted by Exacta Research Group sheds light on the electoral landscape in Bulgaria, indicating a clear lead for the GERB coalition as the country gears up for parliamentary elections on June 9.
According to the survey results, 25.9% of respondents who plan to cast their votes would choose GERB, giving them a significant advantage over their closest competitor, We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB), which garnered 16% of the intended votes. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) secured the third position with 14%, followed closely by Revival at 13.8%. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and There Is Such a People (TISP) received 9.6% and 5.2% of the intended votes, respectively.
An overwhelming 78% of respondents expressed support for the proposed "2 in 1" electoral format for the upcoming elections, which include elections for the European Parliament. Notably, 91% of interviewees voiced their discontent with recent political events in the country, underscoring a general sentiment of frustration among the Bulgarian populace.
Despite the perceived interest in the elections, the survey revealed a sense of apprehension regarding voter turnout, with two-thirds of respondents anticipating lower participation compared to the previous parliamentary elections in April 2023, which saw a turnout of around 41%.
Asen Vassilev, co-chair of the opposition party "We Continue the Change," sharply criticized the government’s decision to nominate Rumen Spetsov as special manager of Lukoil Neftochim
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov told the parliamentary defense committee that Bulgaria expects the F-16 Block 70 fighters to become fully operational in 2028
The Bulgarian government has put forward Rumen Spetsov as the special sales representative for Lukoil Neftochim
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence is set to receive a budget of EUR 2.708 billion for 2026
Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev assured on Thursday that Bulgaria will not face a fuel crisis, stressing that the government is doing everything in its power to prevent one
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov admitted that he does not consider the draft state budget for 2026 to be a good one, yet described it as the only feasible option under the current geopolitical and domestic circumstances
Bulgaria's Strategic Role in the EU's Drone Wall Defense Initiative
When Politics Means Violence