CITIB: Without the 2026 budget, protests for higher wages are guaranteed

“It could have been worse”, said Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), commenting on the introduction of the euro. In an interview with public service broadcaster BNT, he praised retail chains for freezing the prices of many products.

“We can all see the level of inflation, and people are waiting to see the 2026 state budget. We want incomes to rise, just as prices are rising. I hope the Ministry of Finance will apply the index, which reflects 5.2% inflation, and salaries will be adjusted accordingly”, he said.

• Unions in Bulgaria expect nationwide social protests at the end of January

• Bulgaria's largest union CITUB declares readiness for strikes over 2026 Budget

Plamen Dimitrov explained that in January people will receive higher winter bills—for electricity and heating—while salaries remain the same. “I expect tension. It is guaranteed. In several sectors, signatures are already being collected for protest actions,” the trade unionist said, criticizing politicians for not passing the state budget, and thus blocking salary increases.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov