site.btaBorissov to Business Community: No Way to Form a Better Government

Borissov to Business Community: No Way to Form a Better Government


Sofia, January 20 (BTA) - Addressing the traditional annual
meeting of the government and business on Tuesday, Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov said: "I am far from saying that we have
come to deeply love one another, we just know that we cannot
have anything better than what we have now."

Borissov said it could have been better if the Bulgaria without
Censorship project had not been put into operation. He said
political analysts should turn their attention to that project
which showed "how money can push a party into Parliament".

Bulgaria's strength lies in consolidating everybody's efforts
and working for success, said Borissov.

Reformist Bloc Co-Floor Leader Radan Kanev said Bulgaria's
development requires agreement among politicians on several
major points: to solve the pension system's problems caused by
the demographic crisis, to ensure the rule of law, and to find
financing for key reforms.

Kanev said: "Although the budget deficit threshold is 3 per cent
[as set in the Maastricht criteria], Bulgaria has a much higher
deficit due to the pension system, which will persist for at
least 15 or 20 years." The pension reform should have two
objectives: to deal with imbalances and to convince people with
jobs that it is worth paying social insurance contributions.

Bulgaria failed to secure the necessary investments, said Kanev.
Using EU money all the time is an option, but it is also an
obstacle because this country must meet certain conditions.
Problems with the rule of law are the major hurdle for big
investors, while an inefficient, partisan administration hampers
small businesses.

The good news is that things can get better if the judicial
reform is implemented by eliminating political and corruption
pressure on that system, said Kanev. E-services will make the
administration efficient and transparent. However, even the best
reforms cannot be implemented unless financing is available, he
added.
***
Commenting on his statement at the WOMEN GERB forum over the
weekend that a woman could be Bulgaria's next president,
Borissov said it was not meant as an assessment of the incumbent
President but was prompted by the upbeat tone of the meeting.