Bulgaria’s nationalist pro-Russian party Vazrazhdane has submitted 38,235 proposed amendments to the 2025 budget between its first and second readings, party leader Kostadin Kostadinov told reporters in parliament on Friday.
According to Kostadinov, the proposed changes effectively amount to an entirely new budget.
The amendments focus on ten key areas, including administrative streamlining, reducing operational costs for personnel and bureaucratic structures in favor of capital investments, and allocating funds for infrastructure modernization. Other priorities include support for technological advancements, increased funding for e-governance, digitalization, and electronic justice.
Kostadinov also said the proposals seek to exert financial pressure on politically motivated institutions and cut funding for inefficient government units, following an approach similar to the one used by the Trump administration.
Bulgaria’s parliament opened its session on Friday with a declaration from the “BSP–United Left” parliamentary group marking International Women’s Day, calling for a stronger role for women in decision-making on key issues.
“Let March 8 be a reason for joy and a renewed mobilization in support of women’s rights,” said Mariana Boyadzhieva from BSP–United Left, who read the statement.
The parliamentary agenda includes a “blitz control” session, during which Deputy Prime Ministers Tomislav Donchev and Grozdan Karadjov will answer lawmakers’ questions. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov will not take part due to urgent commitments, Parliament Speaker Nataliya Kiselova announced at the start of the session.
A regular parliamentary oversight session will follow, featuring Karadjov and ministers Temenuzhka Petkova, Marian Bachev, Georgi Tahov, Manol Genov, Petar Dilov, Zhecho Stankov, Georg Georgiev, Ivan Ivanov, Krasimir Valchev, and Borislav Gutsanov.
Lawmakers approved a proposal from Kostadin Angelov (GERB–SDS) to begin the regular oversight session immediately after the blitz control and extend it for three hours.
Petar Petrov (Vazrazhdane) supported an earlier start but proposed that the session last until 14:00. His proposal was rejected.