Kristian Vigenin: We will not allow people to pay the price of the budget restrictions

„The 2025 budget is an important test for the government. The BSP insists that the price of the budget restrictions should not be paid by people. We are categorically against stopping the growth of incomes and pensions or taking money away from social programmes.“ This was stated by the Deputy Chair of the BSP and candidate for chair of the party Kristian Vigenin on Darik radio. He recalled that it was not the BSP but GERB that supported the 2024 budget, which in his words largely predetermines the one for 2025 as well. „Let everyone bear their own responsibility.“, he commented. The Deputy Chair of the BSP expressed bewilderment at the refusal to impose a tax on the excess profits of the banks, because if this step were taken it could close part of the deficit.

„Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone should take place after the country is ready not only on the formal criteria. Preventive measures against profiteering and price rises need to be taken, and the Bulgarian economy needs to be protected.“, Kristian Vigenin commented. He believes the experience of the countries that have already introduced the single European currency can be applied, and that the state should step into its role and explain through an adequate campaign the positives and the real risks of joining, because populist influence on society has been allowed on this topic.

The BSP leadership election

Regarding the forthcoming election of a BSP chair, Kristian Vigenin said he sees no problem in there being 17 candidates: „It is not a problem, it means there are 17 people ready to take responsibility for the party in this difficult situation. I am ready to hear the ideas of each of them and to put the best of them into practice.“ The Deputy Chair of the party recalled that he has chosen a motto under which his meetings around the country before the congress are taking place, For a strong BSP! Together! „After the congress and the direct election we must gather the whole potential of the party in order to place the BSP on firm ground. With joint efforts we need to begin following a policy that all left-thinking people in Bulgaria would recognise as their own, and there are many of them. Together we must begin pushing upwards so that the BSP can become an effective party, firmly connected to the left principles and ideas that it is to carry out in government“, Kristian Vigenin believes.

On the question of the speculation about who is whose man and what Peevski’s role is, the Deputy Chair of the BSP called for judgement by actions and votes: „Ours was the only parliamentary group that not only accepted the so-called sanitary cordon, but in which every single MP signed up to it. Now Peevski is not in the government, and is even positioning himself as the main opposition.“