Bulgaria's Parliament approved the 2023 state budget in the first reading with 156 votes in favor. The support came from GERB-SDS, PP-DB and DPS deputies. The "BSP for Bulgaria" and the parties "Wazrazhdane" and "There is Such a People" (ITN) voted against.

"This budget is not revolutionary, it continues the policies and best practices started in the last years. We have managed to maintain a 3 percent deficit for the third year in a row and to adjust spending to existing resources without affecting Bulgarian citizens," Finance Minister Assen Vasilev said.

Despite its support, GERB-SDS said that the budget does not solve a single problem and does not envisage serious reform.

The state plan envisages 69.5 billion leva (35.53 billion euros) in revenue. They are to come from better tax and fee collection by the tax and customs authorities, a 100 percent dividend from state-owned enterprises and economic growth of 1.8 percent. 

Expenditures are to amount to 74 billion leva, while social benefits are to be maintained - an increase in pensions according to the Swiss rule, a minimum wage of 780 leva and a poverty line of 504 leva are planned.