site.btaGERB, United Patriots Agree on Minimum Pension

GERB, United Patriots Agree on Minimum Pension

Sofia, April 11 (BTA) - GERB and the United Patriots have reached an agreement about the amount of the minimum monthly pension. Following yet another round of negotiations in Parliament Tuesday, however, it remains unclear what the amount will be and what concessions the two sides have made. The nationalists initially demanded the minimum pension to be set at 300 leva.

"We reached full consensus on one exceptionally important topic - the pensions, and we continue to work on the remaining sectoral policies," GERB Deputy Chair Tsvetan Tsvetanov told journalists on Tuesday. According to him, the negotiating sides should be ready with the governance strategy programme by Thursday.

Both Tsvetanov and National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria leader Valeri Simeonov declined to give any numbers until the strategy's final version is ready. "We all made a mutual compromise," said Tsvetanov.

Simeonov voiced satisfaction about the reached agreement, but did not respond whether the United Patriots have received something in return for their concession.

The debates are currently on foreign policy, where there is apparently much work left. Last week, the United Patriots presented their draft concerning the topic to GERB. The leader of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, Krassimir Karakachanov, noted that they will insist that the focus falls on Bulgaria's leading role in the Balkans, which can become the driving force behind the neighbouring countries' European integration.