During Consultations with the President, "Democratic Bulgaria" Presses on Budget and the “Borissov-Peevski Model”

President Iliana Yotova opened the consultations with “Democratic Bulgaria” by focusing on the country’s fiscal situation and the timeline for adopting a new state budget, stressing that the caretaker government had been operating under an extended financial framework. She noted that the current budget had already been prolonged twice and remained denominated in levs, while raising questions about when a new budget could realistically be introduced and what constraints, or “red lines,” would shape its preparation.

During the meeting, Yotova underlined the scale of the challenge ahead, pointing to the limited time horizon and the need for clarity on fiscal priorities. She asked the delegation to outline their expectations for budget policy and governance priorities in the remaining months of the year.

Bozhidar Bozhanov of “Yes, Bulgaria” stated that the election outcome had assigned their formation the role of opposition. He added that while internal party restructuring had been a strategic misstep in their view, they would continue to defend the commitments made during the campaign. Bozhanov emphasized that they would act as a constructive opposition but would not remain passive if the government diverged from what he described as the mandate given by voters.

He also raised concerns about what he described as a fading political focus on dismantling the so-called “Borissov-Peevski model.” In his words, “We note with concern that the topic of the ‘Borissov-Peevski model’ has somehow disappeared and been replaced by general formulations.” Bozhanov linked this issue to broader questions about judicial reform and institutional integrity, arguing that key appointments and reforms, including changes to the Supreme Judicial Council, should proceed under strict transparency rules and within defined deadlines.

Ivaylo Mirchev addressed fiscal policy, expressing surprise at proposals for a new cap on public debt, which he said conflicted with earlier campaign positions presented by the governing forces. He warned that expanding debt limits could send negative signals to investors and credit rating agencies, especially given what he described as already elevated levels of state indebtedness.

He also pointed to inconsistencies in the positions of major political actors, noting that some parties opposed debt increases while having contributed to previous record borrowing levels. According to Mirchev, there is a need for consensus around concrete measures aimed at stabilizing public finances.

Among the proposals outlined by “Democratic Bulgaria” were maintaining taxes at current levels, reviewing automatic wage indexation in the public sector, limiting the deficit to around 3%, and shifting the burden of social contributions more directly onto civil servants. Mirchev also called for broader administrative reform and a more disciplined fiscal framework, stating that their approach would remain firmly oriented toward budget stability.

The consultations concluded with “Democratic Bulgaria” reaffirming its role as an opposition force prepared to support policies it deems effective while challenging decisions that, in its view, deviate from electoral commitments and governance transparency standards.