site.btaParliamentary Parties Entrenched on State Budget Update, Health Insurance Budget Revision Likelier

Sofia, August 1 (BTA) - Before starting consultations Friday  with the parties  represented in the national and the European  Parliament, President Rosen Plevneliev said: "Let's forget about  partisan talking points and face the truth about the facts of  the budget, the economy and finances, let's address the talking  points of the people and the moves which must be taken to  achieve what we have already agreed - a smooth transition to  greater stability."

The participants are discussing the need to update the national budget and the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The consultations are public and are broadcast directly on the Bulgarian National Television and the webpage of the Presidency.

Plevneliev said this meeting was a last-ditch attempt to  consolidate the political forces' positions on the 2014 budget.  These are public consultations, one of the reasons being that  the people and the sectoral organizations, trade unions and  other organizations are immensely interested and want to  understand the arguments of every participant. "I believe it is  important for the people to hear and understand the arguments  each of us has, so it will be known afterwards who is  responsible for the consciously made decision. This is a  difficult moment and we are seeking agreement," said the  President.

He read out letters and declarations from patients' and business  organizations and municipalities asking the MPs to attend the  parliamentary sittings and update the national budget and the  NHIF budget. Plevneliev said that trade unions and employers  told him the municipalities need support. 

According to Plevneliev, by June 30, the deficit was 995 million leva. "The targeted deficit for the whole year is 1,400 million leva. Further 250 million leva were accumulated in July, so now we have around 1,300 million leva. 305 million leva have to be paid to the municipalities and 1,000 million leva - to the construction companies. In fact, what is the actual amount of the deficit," the Head of State asked. In his opinion, the revenues are considerably before the target.

He said that the EU funds are also a big problem. "The national co-financing for the current year is planned at 3,000 million leva. Of these, 1,000 million have been paid so far. How shall we pay the remaining amount given that we do not pay the construction companies nor do we allow the municipalities to take a breath of fresh air," the Head of State asked.   

Regarding the troubled Corporate Commercial Bank (Corpbank)  Plevneliev said he wishes that the bank would be rehabilitated but if a big gap is to be filled, there is an option for liquidation. "Many of you, as well as trade union and employer organizations 
opposed categorically reinstatement of deposits of over 100,000 leva," said he.

"As a head of State, I am not happy that I have to appoint a second caretaker cabinet but I will address responsibly this issue," Plevneliev said. However, he appealed to the political parties to provide assistance and not to tie up the hands of the caretaker cabinet. "Otherwise, there would be caretaker cabinet that would stop, instead of helping and cut instead of paying."
   
Plevneliev said that he sees his request to allow the caretaker cabinet sign agreements and borrow from international financial institutions as anything but an empty cheque. Does one get an empty cheque, when he signs a contract with the European Commission, the European Central Bank or the International Monetary Fund, he asked. The head of State guarantees full transparency of the operation of the caretaker cabinet.

Participating in the consultations are party leaders - GERB's  Boyko Borissov, Mihail Mikov of the Bulgarian Socialist Party  (BSP), Lyutvi Mestan of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms  (MRF) and Nikolai Barekov of Bulgaria without Censorship - and  representatives of the leaderships of the political forces. The  Ataka party is not participating.

Mikov said that he was present out of respect for the Head of State and that the meeting was part of political dialogue.

Mikov also said that decisions on the agenda and the  parliamentary groups' positions are taken in Parliament. He  reiterated the BSP's view on the proposed updates of the  national budget and the NHIF budget. "We support the NHIF budget  update just to be on the safe side rather than out of  necessity. We do not support the update of the national budget,"  said Mikov. He also said there was a decision on both matters,  supported with arguments at plenary sittings.

According to Plevneliev, by June 30, the deficit was 995 million leva. "The targeted deficit for the whole year is 1,400 million leva. Further 250 million leva were accumulated in July, so now we have around 1,300 million leva. 305 million leva have to be paid to the municipalities and 1,000 million leva - to the construction companies. In fact, what is the actual amount of the deficit," the Head of State asked. In his opinion, the revenues are considerably before the target.

He said that the EU funds are also a big problem. "The national co-financing for the current year is planned at 3,000 million leva. Of these, 1,000 million have been paid so far. How shall we pay the remaining amount given that we do not pay the construction companies nor do we allow the municipalities to take a breath of fresh air," the Head of State asked.   

Regarding the troubled Corporate Commercial Bank (Corpbank)  Plevneliev said he wishes that the bank would be rehabilitated but if a big gap is to be filled, there is an option for liquidation. "Many of you, as well as trade union and employer organizations 
opposed categorically reinstatement of deposits of over 100,000 leva," said he.

"As a head of State, I am not happy that I have to appoint a second caretaker cabinet but I will address responsibly this issue," Plevneliev said. However, he appealed to the political parties to provide assistance and not to tie up the hands of the caretaker cabinet. "Otherwise, there would be caretaker cabinet that would stop, instead of helping and cut instead of paying."
   
Plevneliev said that he sees his request to allow the caretaker cabinet sign agreements and borrow from international financial institutions as anything but an empty cheque. Does one get an empty cheque, when he signs a contract with the European Commission, the European Central Bank or the International Monetary Fund, he asked. The head of State guarantees full transparency of the operation of the caretaker cabinet.