Sofia - Finance Minister Assen Vassilev Sunday said the 2023 budget, which will be put up for plenary debate on July 11, is feasible, though with difficulty. It is realistic and the 3% deficit target can be met, he said in a bTV interview. The minimum wage will be raised to 50% of the average wage, pensions have already increased from July 1, and JULY 10, 2023 3 the child care benefits during the child's second year will be raised from BGN 710 now to BGN 780 per month. Vassilev said the deficit should be 3% of GDP because the EU economy is still in a crisis and overly restrictive budgets are neither desirable nor sensible. In the last couple of years, the Bulgarian economy did not generate large deficits while it conducted a normal European policy and reduced disparities. The apocalyptic forecasts did not come true and Bulgaria did not take on large debts; on the contrary, it recorded 3.9% growth according to Eurostat, he said. Asked if these measures have fuelled inflation, Vassilev said the budget deficit on a cash basis is 0.8% and inflation is not dramatic. The main sources of inflation in Bulgaria are food and energy prices. However, an attempt to keep food prices down would promptly lead to food export, he said. He said food prices were pushed up by the grain crisis and higher fertiliser prices. After the latter dropped, food prices also went down or stabilized. Unless something very bad happens, the market should be back to normal by the coming autumn or winter, the Finance Minister said.  (ICE SOFIA)

Fonte notizia: bta news