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Asen Vassilev is co-chairman of “We continue the change” and nominated by the party for future finance minister. He was also in office in Rumen Radev’s previous office. PHOTO: VELISLAV NIKOLOV
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I do not accept as pressure either the caretaker government’s import or Radev’s call, says the co-chairman of “We continue the change”, who is the party’s nomination for finance minister in the new cabinet
– Mr. Vassilev, in his speech before the Parliament, President Rumen Radev advised the new majority to pay attention to the draft budget, which will be submitted by the caretaker government. However, in an interview with “24 Hours” some time ago, you expressed the opinion that the 2022 budget can be adopted even at the beginning of next year. What will be your attitude to what the cabinet will contribute?
– I have not yet read the project, as we are focused on negotiations for a government and a coalition agreement. As soon as the negotiations are over, I will review the caretaker government’s draft and be able to give you more concrete answers. I really don’t know what’s in it.
– Some of the things have already been announced by the Minister of Finance Valeri Belchev …
– Yes, but it is not serious to comment on such an important draft law in terms of media coverage. You have to sit down in detail, with the directors who prepared it.
Let’s see what
policies are underlying
To see what happened in the meetings with the tripartite partners, the trade unions and the employers’ organizations. You know – a budget procedure is quite a complicated and slow process. We, as an official cabinet, went through it for a month and a half, and then for at least 2-3 weeks in the parliament.
And it’s very important to look at everything,
so that there are no gaps and problems
So, when I get acquainted with the project, then I will be able to comment on whether we are continuing with it, whether a new project is being made and in general – how we are proceeding.
– Do you accept Radev’s words and in general the decision to submit a draft budget by the caretaker government as pressure on the future rulers by the president?
– No. I do not accept it as pressure. If there is a project that is in line with what has been assembled as a government and as a coalition agreement is set for next year as policies, then this project can be used.
If, for example, the project does not correspond to the structure and composition of the Council of Ministers, there are new ministries or agencies moving, or it does not meet the set policies, it will most likely have to be finalized or revised in order to get things done.
– GERB announced that they are submitting a draft decision on the introduction of a moratorium on new foreign debt.
– I strongly hope that they do not use the word “moratorium”, because this is something different from what they are trying to achieve.
They want to put debt ceiling
They have the right to propose it and the parliament to decide whether to accept it or not.
– Tell us how are the talks with your partners about the positions in the future government?
– When we are ready with the draft composition of the government and the structure of the Council of Ministers, this will be announced and all media will be notified. Everything else is speculation.
The coalition agreement is currently being drafted in detail on the basis of the meetings held, and the decision-making mechanisms in the coalition and all other points that are to be included in a coalition agreement are being specified. We are preparing texts to be discussed over the weekend and to be adopted by the party bodies.
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