Bulgarian government submits revised 2026 budget to parliament

The Bulgarian government approved three budget bills today — the state budget and the budgets for the National Health Insurance Fund and the Social Security Fund — and will submit them to the National Assembly. The drafts had previously been approved by business and labour representatives during discussions at the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation.

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Next year, the tax and social security burden will remain unchanged. The dividend tax will not increase from 5% to 10%, and pension contributions will not rise by two percentage points. Over the next three years, 5,500 unfilled administrative posts are expected to be cut.

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Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov emphasised that Bulgaria needs to enter 2026 with an approved budget to minimise challenges related to the introduction of the euro, according to BNR reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova. Next year’s projected average annual inflation is 3.5%, while the forecast deficit is 3.0% of GDP.

The government’s original draft budget was revised after the initial version prompted the largest protests in Bulgaria for decades.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova