Change in the Minimum Wage Determination Mechanism with Budget 2027

The mechanism through which the minimum wage is determined in Bulgaria will be changed with the adoption of Budget 2027. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov in an interview with BNR. According to him, the future budget will be more ambitious than the current one, which he described as being "based on the status quo."

Investigation of a Corruption Scheme in the MRRD

During the interview, Pekanov shared information regarding the termination of a manipulated corruption scheme in the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRRD). It concerns 127 million euros intended for small and medium-sized enterprises in coal regions, for which 1,600 companies applied.

The Deputy Prime Minister claims that under the "Zhelyazkov" cabinet, the criteria for distributing grants were rigged so that specific candidates would win the funds. After the procedure was carried out, the criteria were changed, and a new procedure for distributing the funds under new rules will be launched. Pekanov added that even officials from GERB were affected by these measures but did not comment on the case.

Risks to European Funds and Anti-Corruption Reforms

As a primary commitment of the "Radev" cabinet, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed to anti-corruption reforms. He warned that approximately 400 million euros under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) are at risk, as the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has not yet elected a member to the anti-corruption commission.

Among the government's priorities, Pekanov listed the development of high-value-added production. At the same time, he emphasized the need to limit or completely stop gambling advertisements, describing it as a "great scourge for society."