Budget 2026 Passes First Reading After Four-Hour Debate.

After four hours of debate, Bulgaria's Parliament approved the 2026 state budget at first reading.

The opposition's main criticism focused on the lack of reforms and the high projected budget deficit.

Revival party MP Martin Dimitrov strongly criticized the draft budget, saying the country was entering the beginning of a budget crisis. Today, with this budget, the Bulgarian people will have to drink the bitter cup to the last drop, he said.

DPS lawmaker Atidzhe Veli argued that the draft budget does not comply with public finance legislation and sets an excessively high deficit calculated through an unclear methodology.

Finance Minister Galab Donev said the direction of the budget had already been set and that it was the government's responsibility to expose hidden problems and put an end to reckless fiscal decisions.

The budget was backed by 126 MPs from Progressive Bulgaria and 17 from DPS. Voting against were 36 MPs from GERB-UDF, 20 from Democratic Bulgaria and 14 from We Continue the Change.

Parliament also decided to shorten the deadline for submitting proposals between the first and second readings of the bill to five days.

During the debate, lawmakers also argued that borrowing10.1 billion and injecting those funds into the economy could fuel inflation by increasing demand.