Parliament considers budget 2013 on first reading

Preserving financial stability and curbing poverty are the goals of the draft bill on the state budget of Bulgaria for 2013, currently discussed in parliament.

GDP growth is expected to reach 1.9 percent while the planned deficit is 1.3 percent of forecast GDP. Budget 2013 accentuates on reducing poverty. To that end the minimal monthly salary in the country will go up as of January 1 from BGN 290 to BGN 310. As of April 1 retirement pensions would increase by an average of 9.3 percent, the draft reads.

Adapted from Bulgarian National Radio