“Within seven days our cabinet took important steps and the first successful move is that after months of stress for citizens and for institutions, the government submitted the 2026 budget bill. Thus, we move the country out of the inertia that was our legacy from the Jeliazkov and Gurov cabinets and set it on a sustainable course.” This was stated by Prime Minister Rumen Radev at the opening of today’s cabinet sitting in the Government Headquarters.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the 2026 draft budget is difficult while it has undeniable merits and lays a stable financial foundation for the country’s development. “It is a realistic budget that puts an end to the twists of makeshift groupings and will give us a solid foundation to stand on in the coming year,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our legacy is a looted treasury, however, social payments are guaranteed and people can rest assured,” the Prime Minister noted and said that the Government is about to start the preparation of the 2027 budget.

In his statement, Rumen Radev emphasized, inter alia, the results of the talks held in recent days with the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Prime Minister noted that the agreements reached will position Bulgaria as a key gateway for energy supplies to Central and Eastern Europe. In his words, the NATO Summit in Ankara has confirmed this avenue and interest in gas supplies via Bulgaria continues to grow.

Further, the Prime Minister underlined that at the Ankara Summit Bulgaria reiterated its commitment to allied policies to ensure collective security.

Vis-à-vis support for Ukraine, Rumen Radev said that the previous administrations had made firm long-term commitments for financial support while they allowed for a significant budget deficit. “That is why I told the allies that Bulgaria would support to the extent it can afford. And this year no such possibilities exist,” the Prime Minister said.