The tripartite cooperation council failed to reach agreement on the draft budget for 2023.

• Caretaker cabinet proposes a 2023 state budget with a 6.4% deficit

Both employers and trade unions expressed serious concern over the excessive deficit of 6.4% which could lead to Bulgaria’s severe indebtedness, BNR’s Marta Mladenova reports. If all expenditure and revenues go ahead as planned, there will have to be additional debt financing this year, amounting to around EUR 7 billion. According to employers, the budget deficit proposed is going to delay Bulgaria’s accession to the Eurozone. The trade unions are demanding a rise in salaries in the public sector by 15-30%, and not, as the caretaker cabinet proposes by 10%, and only where salaries were not raised last year.