site.btaGERB Leader: Situation in Public Finances “Is Not Rose-Coloured” but Would Not Change GERB’s Plan to Move Ahead towards Eurozone Entry
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GERB leader Boyko Borissov told reporters in Parliament Friday that the situation in public finances “is not rose-coloured” but that would not change his party’s plans to ask a convergence report from the European Commission and the European Central Bank. "It was GERB that got this country into the European Banking Union and the eurozone waiting room," he said.
He said that businesses and various organizations have a role to educate Bulgarian people about the benefits of the euro and to ease the fears.
He also said, "Prices of foodstuffs are going up, in and out of the eurozone. It is the same everywhere."
Asked why police officers will receive a pay raise even though public finances are in dire straits, thus pitting police against teachers, doctors and other professional communities, Borissov said, "Teachers, pensioners and doctors will get [something] as well. This measure - for increasing police officers' wages - was decided together with the colleagues from Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria and Assen Vassilev, years ago."
Asked to comment the 9% VAT that has been promised to the restaurant sector - down from the flat rate of 20% for all other sectors - Borissov said that restaurants have taken the brunt of the COVID crisis.
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