31.05.2013

I will be a minister of growth and not only of stability. This exactly will be the difference between me and Simeon Djankov because it is important not only to have fiscal stability but also development of people\'s opportunities, Minister of Finance Petar Chobanov stated in the studio of bTV.

He was positive that the social promises given by BSP in their election campaign could be realized but it would be necessary to restart the system, to calm the business environment and to implement reforms in sectors such as the state charges for example. \"We have made a promise that we have to keep and we are looking for the money to keep it. Not only for the minimum salary, but also for mothers\' benefits and the support for first grade pupils. The same applies to the promise for opening 250,000 new jobs which we have given before the elections. This commitment will be fulfilled\", Minister Chobanov stated.

With the condition that analyses and assessment of the financial system situation were pending, the minister commented that there were gaps in the budget and the economic growth underlying it was too optimistic. Asked about the commitment the inherited liabilities amounting to BGN 1.4 billion to be paid Minister Chobanov stated that those were resources that the revenue agencies had forecasted as tax revenue underperformance. Chobanov clarified that the problems with the ability of the NRA and the Customs Agency to collect more money would be analysed and the replacement of their directors would also be subject of reassessment.

\"There are other payments to be made in addition to this billion. There is debt of BGN 800 million issued as \"a matter of urgency\" in February. This was done to pay what was due to farmers and to stop eventual protests against the GERB Government\", the Minister reminded. According to him the maturity of the debt was too short - 6 months - and thus the budget was heavily burdened. Chobanov pointed out that another BGN 600 million would have to be taken out of the reserve to pay the contribution for increasing our IMF quota.

Asked about the proposals of the trade unions to increase the minimum wage, Minister Chobanov noted that the tripartite mechanisms had to be used.