Declaration from the Coordinating Council of CITUB

The Coordination Council of CITUB expresses its complete disappointment and categorical protest against the irresponsible decision of the National Assembly not to adopt the laws for the state budget, the DOO budget, and the NHIF budget for the year 2026.

Instead of a stable macroeconomic and budgetary framework that guarantees growth in incomes, maintenance, and investments, the legislative body chose the path of political impotence by adopting an "extension law" of Budget 2025, which will be applied for at least three months, potentially extending to the first half of 2026. This decision is not just a technical procedure – it is a direct assault on the standard of living of hundreds of thousands of working Bulgarians in the public sector – including secondary and higher education, healthcare, state administration, agriculture, environment, land and rail transport, culture, defense and security, postal services, and others.

Therefore, CITUB categorically states:

1. Freezing salaries is unacceptable: By rejecting Budget 2026, the planned income increases in the public sector with a general, horizontal policy of 10% are annulled. The foreseen 1 billion euros in the draft ZDBRB for 2026 for salary growth of nearly 600,000 workers (470,000 in the public sector and 126,000 in state and municipal enterprises) are now gone, burdening both them and their families.

Instead, the "extension law" provides for income indexation equal to the accumulated annual inflation for 2025, which CITUB insists should be calculated through the "consumer price index". This will allow income growth to reach at least 5%. Otherwise, if any other indicator is used, salary growth will not even be that much.

It is important to say that however this inflation is measured, the increase will be woefully insufficient, whether it is 3.7% or 5.2%. In the face of constantly rising prices of essential goods and high utility costs during the winter months, this decision condemns thousands of families to energy and consumer poverty.

2. A blow is delivered to key sectors: The lack of a new budget puts the functioning of strategic sectors at risk. Tension in transportation, healthcare, education, state administration, social services, culture, the water sector, agriculture and postal services is already at a critical point. The lack of funds for adequate compensation will lead to mass resignations of specialists and collapse of public services.

3. A risk is created for economic stability amid the introduction of the euro: At a time when our country is in the final stretch towards Eurozone membership, the lack of budgetary predictability and social tension sends a disastrous signal to international partners and undermines economic stability. Social peace cannot be sacrificed for political games.

Considering the alarming situation in the country and the growing political uncertainty, the CC of CITUB warns that social tension will increase in the coming months. The union declares full readiness to organize and lead national, sectoral, and regional protests, as well as strike actions in enterprises, aimed at protecting the rights and incomes of Bulgarian citizens. We will not allow the bill for political instability to be paid by the Bulgarian worker once again!