site.btaPensioners with Low Pensions Will Get 40 Lv Christmas Bonus, PM Says

Pensioners with Low
Pensions Will Get 40 Lv
Christmas Bonus, PM Says


Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov is
quoted by the Government press service as saying on Tuesday that
Christmas bonuses of 40 leva will be paid out to pensioners,
whose pensions are below the poverty line of 286 leva.
Borissov's words come after a meeting with Finance Minister
Vladislav Goranov.

The Prime Minister explained that the decision will affect
around 1.3 million pensioners and will require 50 million leva.
"That's not a small amount of money given the financial crisis,
but when we had to set aside billions to save banks because of
this devastating government (referring to Plamen Oresharski's
cabinet), the pensioners are right to ask how they will spend
the Christmas holidays. We have always said that they deserve
it," Borissov said.

The Prime Minister explained that the decree for allocating the
money will be put to the vote during the upcoming council of
ministers and that he will familiarize his Deputy and Labour and
Social Policy Minister, Ivaylo Kalfin, with the budget's
capabilities. Borissov said he had told the Finance Minister to
see what financial cuts could be made to infrastructure projects
and the administration, in order to see how much can be given
to the Bulgarian pensioners.

Finance Minister Goranov said that he was assured by Borissov
that there will be support for the additional savings measures
until the year's end, so that the budget update total comes out.
PK/MY



/СН/